CLEARWATER – Habitat for Humanity Tampa Bay Gulfside has set a new affiliate record with 88 homes built in its 2024-25 fiscal year, allowing 88 new families to enjoy the safety and security of homeownership.
Each family completed the Habitat homeownership program, which includes 38 homebuyer education classes focused on finances and homeowner responsibilities, and putting in between 350 and 450 sweat equity hours.
Upon completion of the program, these families earned 0% APR mortgages that ensure affordability throughout the life of the home loan.
“Each home built and family served is its own milestone for us at Habitat,” said Mike Sutton, president and CEO of Habitat for Humanity Tampa Bay Gulfside. “For us as a staff to be able to step back and see that we helped 88 families achieve their piece of the American dream by becoming homeowners, with a 0% interest mortgage, is just an incredible feeling. It’s also a reminder that our work is so important to the community and we are using this as fuel to build more homes and help anchor more families in our community.”
Expanding the service area
In April 2024, Habitat for Humanity International selected this Habitat affiliate (then known as Habitat for Humanity of Pinellas and West Pasco Counties) to expand its service area to include Hernando County.
Following this expansion, the affiliate rebranded to represent its regional reach and became Habitat for Humanity Tampa Bay Gulfside. Over the next year, Habitat Tampa Bay Gulfside worked to establish relationships and partnerships in Hernando County, hired staff and recruited four business leaders to join its board of directors.
Here are some key events from the fiscal year:
- December 2024: Habitat accepts the Pickerings as the first Hernando family into the program.
- January 2025: Habitat breaks ground on first Hernando Home.
- February 2025: Hernando County Board of County Commissioners awarded Habitat 9.5 acres in Spring Hill to Habitat to build 30 single-family homes.
- May 2025: Coca-Cola Beverages Florida announced as Habitat’s first Hernando home sponsor.
- June 2025: Habitat welcomes the Pickering Family to their new home in Spring Hill.
The year ahead
Habitat Tampa Bay Gulfside is celebrating 40 years of impact in 2025. This August, the affiliate will join an exclusive group of Habitat affiliates to achieve the milestone of 1,000 homes built in their community.
Habitat’s 1,000th Home Dedication Celebration will take place Aug. 22, at 10 a.m. in the Lealman community of St. Petersburg. Visit habitattbg.org/1000thhome to learn more about the family and this milestone event.
Habitat will also appear on an upcoming episode of HGTV’s “100 Day Dream Home” with Brian and Mika Kleinschmidt. The episode will focus on a Habitat partner family going through the process of building their home. The episode is expected to air in October and Habitat will host a special 40th anniversary event to premiere the episode. Dates and times for the episode and event will be announced this summer.
By the numbers
- 88 homes built across the service area of Pinellas, West Pasco and Hernando counties.
- $41 million-plus revenue to fund Habitat operations and construction of homes.
- 106 adults who now have peace of mind and can pass down intergenerational wealth to their children.
- 153 children now in a place where they have the space to grow.
