Keys for Keeps
City Builds Three More Habitat for Humanity Homes for Local Families
July 12, 2018
For City of Tallahassee employees, building three homes in the Griffin Heights and Frenchtown neighborhoods over the past three months has been a labor of love, made possible by a partnership between the City and Big Bend Habitat for Humanity. Leaders with both organizations will officially present keys to the new homeowners and their deserving families on Tuesday, July 17, at 10 a.m.
“Home should be an attainable goal for every resident of Tallahassee,” Mayor Pro Tem Curtis Richardson said. “This partnership with Habitat for Humanity is just one way that the City is demonstrating its commitment to ensuring affordable housing options exist in our community. I’m extremely proud of our efforts and the dedicated City employees who helped make these homes possible.”
Earlier this year, the City Commission voted to sponsor the construction of three Habitat for Humanity homes, in the form of financial support in the amount of $195,000 and volunteered manpower provided by City of Tallahassee employees.
Building of the three homes officially began on Saturday, April 7. Since then, City employees have volunteered nearly 2,000 hours of their own time on Fridays and Saturdays to complete the homes’ construction. From literally raising roofs and framing the homes through laying sod and moving furniture, volunteers participated in every stage of construction.
With work now complete, the families of Johnny McGriff, Yolanda Lemon and Sabrina Rogers can move in and enjoy homes built with care. The homes are located at 1014 and 1016 Harlem Street and 1432 Colorado Street.
Last fall, City employees successfully built two homes for local families in southwest Tallahassee on McArthur Street.
“At Habitat for Humanity, there’s no greater reward than helping dreams come alive for families and communities,” said Antoine Wright, executive director of Big Bend Habitat for Humanity. “During this build process City employees poured their hearts and hard work into building homes for three deserving families, this is the same kind of commitment they show every day for the residents of Tallahassee.”
Big Bend Habitat for Humanity provides affordable homeownership to low-income persons. The Habit for Humanity model allows for groups and individuals to sponsor homes through financial contributions and pledges of volunteer labor. Individuals who acquire a home through Habitat for Humanity must in turn provide volunteer labor for other homes built by the organization.
For more information about Big Bend Habitat for Humanity, visit BigBendHabitat.org. To learn more about the City’s commitment to affordable housing, visit Talgov.com.
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