Donation is part of a collective $436M commitment to 85 Habitat Entities across the United States
Habitat for Humanity of Pinellas & West Pasco Counties, along with Habitat for Humanity International and 83 other U.S. Habitat affiliate organizations, recently received $436 million in unrestricted giving from American author and philanthropist MacKenzie Scott. Of that, Habitat for Humanity of Pinellas & West Pasco Counties received $11M. This transformational donation will substantially help further Habitat’s vision of a community where everyone has equitable access to a safe, decent, and affordable place to call home.
“A donation like this is rare and has transformational impact,” says Mike Sutton, president & chief executive officer for Habitat for Humanity of Pinellas & West Pasco Counties. “MacKenzie’s generosity and desire to support Habitat for Humanity will allow us to further address the affordable housing crisis and combat the extreme increase in cost of home. A typical Habitat home is costing us $30,000 more than pre-pandemic, severely impacting our ability to advance and grow our mission. Ms. Scott is joining an amazing community of supporters that invest in our mission every day to ensure we keep moving forward.”
Over the next five years, Habitat for Humanity of Pinellas & West Pasco Counties will use the $11M to build more homes and to advocate for systemic and societal changes needed to improve equitable access to affordable housing.
Habitat for Humanity of Pinellas & West Pasco Counties’ strategic plan calls for the organization to build 65 new homes in 2022, 70 new homes in 2023, and 75 new homes in 2024. This transformational gift from MacKenzie will ensure Habitat’s ability to stay true to these strategic objectives of serving a record number of families over the next 3-5 years, despite the significant increase in cost of home. It will also allow the organization to get a number of projects out of the ground including a 57-unit subdivision in Largo, a 25-unit subdivision in Clearwater, and a 30-unit subdivision in New Port Richey.
Habitat for Humanity of Pinellas & West Pasco Counties is an independent affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International, as part of an affiliate network of more than 1,110 U.S. based Habitat affiliates. This organization has been the second-largest Habitat affiliate annually based on new home construction for the last three years.
About Habitat for Humanity of Pinellas County and West Pasco Counties
Since 1985, Habitat for Humanity of Pinellas and West Pasco Counties has served over 900 families and individuals through its new home buyer and neighborhood revitalization programs using locally raised funds. Volunteers and the future homeowners construct the homes, which are sold at no profit and financed with a zero-interest loan. Habitat homeowner candidates earn 30 to 80 percent of area median income. Candidates must demonstrate need for adequate shelter; ability to pay back a zero-interest loan and willingness to partner with Habitat to invest 350 to 450 “sweat equity” hours. Mortgage monies are used to build even more homes, making each donation to Habitat a perpetual legacy to the community. Habitat believes that homeownership contributes to family stability, leading, in turn, to community stability. Additionally, the affiliate raises funds through their ReStores; home improvement outlets where donated household and building items are sold to the public. For more information about Habitat for Humanity of Pinellas and West Pasco Counties visit www.habitatpwp.org.
About Habitat for Humanity International
Driven by the vision that everyone needs a decent place to live, Habitat for Humanity found its earliest inspirations as a grassroots movement on an interracial community farm in south Georgia. Since its founding in 1976, the Christian housing organization has grown to become a leading global nonprofit working in local communities across all 50 states in the U.S. and in more than 70 countries. Families and individuals in need of a hand up partner with Habitat for Humanity to build or improve a place they can call home. Habitat homeowners help build their own homes alongside volunteers and pay an affordable mortgage. Through financial support, volunteering or adding a voice to support affordable housing, everyone can help families achieve the strength, stability and self-reliance they need to build better lives for themselves. Through shelter, we empower. To learn more, visit habitat.org.
