Habitat Sarasota Celebrates Community Impact

Habitat for Humanity Sarasota, Inc served 22 families, including 34 children, with permanent, affordable housing during their last fiscal year, effectively increasing their impact in the community by 82% over the previous year.

This growth was made possible thanks to the support of 717 volunteers who contributed 17, 176 hours building homes, 477 donors who supported the organization financially, and patrons to the ReStore which generated $1.86M in sales revenue.

Habitat Sarasota’s community impact was announced to a full room of 200 supporters at their Fellowship Breakfast and Annual Meeting. Using a theme of “Together, we build” the program highlighted the contributions of the affiliate’s donors, volunteers, community and business partners, government officials, and board of directors.

“Affordable housing for families in Sarasota and across our beautiful nation is gaining the support and visibility it deserves as a critical issue,” says Renee Snyder, President & CEO, Habitat Sarasota. “Affordable housing affects our community across all sectors.”

Snyder also reported on progress of Lives Transformed: The Campaign for Hammock Place. To date, the capital campaign has achieved 67% of its $7M fundraising goal. The first home is now under construction and Habitat Sarasota has a goal to complete the neighborhood by the end of 2021. Hammock Place will provide permanent, affordable housing to 40 families and 100+ children.

“Habitat Sarasota continues to be financially strong. We are a debt free organization. We are currently working with 50 families that have applied for our program. Habitat is Sarasota’s leader in providing permanent, affordable housing.” says John Peshkin, Habitat Sarasota Board Chair and founder/principal at Vanguard Land, a private real estate investment group.

Snyder led a panel discussion on the impact that the lack of affordable housing has on our community and the importance of partnerships to address this critical issue. The panel included Roxie Jerde, president and CEO at the Community Foundation of Sarasota County; Jeff Mayers, general manager of the Longboat Key Club and board member of the Sarasota Chamber of Commerce; Steven Royce, principal at Gocio Elementary School; David Langhout, vice president of Kolter Homes and vice chair of the Habitat Sarasota Board of Directors; and Nick DiLorenzo, instructor at Suncoast Technical College.

Habitat Sarasota’s Community Impact highlights include: 

22 families served – an increase of 82% over the prior fiscal year
·       178 zero percent interest mortgages serviced every month

·       5 homeowners paid off their mortgage

·       717 volunteers contributed 17,176 hours

·       Total revenue of just over $6.8 million  – a 49% increase over the prior fiscal year