Habitat for Humanity of Pinellas and West Pasco Counties dedicates 900th home
By Breanne Williams
Tampa Bay Business Journal
Published: Jul 5, 2024

Habitat for Humanity of Pinellas and West Pasco Counties has dedicated its 900th home since its establishment in 1985.

The organization held the home dedication on June 21 in Largo. The home was made possible by contributions from more than 100 donors and sponsors, each giving at least $900 in honor of the 900th home. The organization raised more than $100,000 for the project.

"At Habitat for Humanity, our vision is a world where everyone has a decent place to live," Mike Sutton, Habitat president and CEO, said in a release. "We can't do the work we do without public-private partnerships in the community. We are grateful to have so much support on our 900th Home."

More than 200 supporters attended the event, including several Pinellas County commissioners and members of Sen. Marco Rubio's office.

The home is on Gooden Crossing, which was renamed in 2003 in honor of Chester and Corrine Gooden, two of the earliest settlers in Largo. Solar Bear sponsored the solar panels on the home.

Volunteers and future homeowners construct the homes for Habitat. Habitat reserves its homes for those earning between 30% and 80% of the area median income. To qualify, potential homeowners must complete various homebuyer curricula and invest more than 350 hours in “sweat equity hours,” or volunteering with Habitat.

The family that received the home completed more than 350 sweat equity hours and 36 homebuyer education classes. They will earn a 0% interest mortgage, which will keep the home affordable throughout the life of the loan.

Habitat for Humanity of Pinellas and West Pasco Counties announced in April that it will expand its service area into Hernando County. Over the past five years, the organization has been recognized as one of the top three producing affiliates in its network of more than 1,100 organizations based on the number of new homes it has completed.

The organization will bring 24 single-family homes to Spring Hill in Hernando County.