Habitat for Humanity to dedicate 1,000th home
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On the left, Shauntee Copeland's Lealman home under construction. On the right, Copeland and her 12-year-old son, Xavier Jones. Photos: Courtesy of Habitat for Humanity Tampa Bay Gulfside
On a cloudy day in the summer of 1986, volunteers and community leaders gathered outside a newly constructed home in St. Petersburg.
- Among them was Jane Dunaway and her two sons, the family set to receive the first house built by Habitat for Humanity's fledgling Pinellas County chapter.
Why it matters: On Friday, four decades later, Habitat for Humanity Tampa Bay Gulfside is set to dedicate its 1,000th home.
- It's a major milestone for a nonprofit that offers a path to homeownership for low- and middle-income families at a time when the cost of living has become untenable for nearly half of Tampa Bay residents.
Driving the news: Set to receive the two-bedroom, two-bathroom home in Lealman, north of St. Petersburg, is Shauntee Copeland and her 12-year-old son, Xavier Jones.
- For weeks, Copeland has been driving by the site of her future home off 52nd Avenue North, getting to know the community and her neighbors.
- "I'm so excited right now," she told Axios this week. "I got chills just talking to you."
How it works: Habitat recipients receive a zero-interest mortgage that's no more than 30% of their household income.
- They also must complete homebuyer classes and hundreds of volunteer hours, some of which are spent helping build the house they'll eventually own.
Zoom in: Copeland, 51, was born and raised in St. Pete. For nearly 30 years, she's worked as a certified nursing assistant at a local nursing home.
- The mom of three and grandmother of two ventured out on her own at 18 and began renting, she said.
- Making low wages, she began receiving government assistance through the Section 8 housing program. It was a big help, she said.
Yes, but: Looking back, she realizes it also stunted her growth toward homeownership.
About 10 years ago, Copeland said, she took "a leap of faith" and stopped receiving assistance.
- "Now," she said, "I feel ready to pay a mortgage. I'm not scared anymore."
Zoom out: Copeland is representative of many of the clients the Habitat chapter serves, CEO Mike Sutton told Axios.
- About 80% of recipients are single mothers. About 85% are people of color. And more than half work in the health care industry.
- Clients are also typically from the communities that Habitat Tampa Bay Gulfside serves, Sutton said.
State of play: In Pinellas, Habitat homes have been concentrated mostly in Lealman, the Greater Ridgecrest area near Largo, south St. Petersburg, and North Greenwood in Clearwater.
- The chapter expanded its service area in 2018 to include West Pasco County and last year to include Hernando County.
What's next: Despite rising construction costs, Sutton said that from here, they'll hit the 2,000-home mark much quicker than the first 1,000.
- The organization has moved into townhome development to increase density, he said.
As for Copeland, she looks forward to hosting her family for holidays and whipping up turkey wings, macaroni and cheese, and banana pudding in her new kitchen.