A Pinellas County employee, a single father of three, will soon have the keys to a new home - becoming the 900th owner to have a home built by Habitat for Humanity of Pinellas and West Pasco Counties. 

The local Habitat for Humanity alliance, which is the second largest in the organization's national network, has helped over 1,000 families, serving as the homebuilder, loan originator, and mortgage servicer.

They plan to build 85 more affordable homes this year.

On the morning of June 21st, Xavier Jones, a mosquito spray technician for Pinellas County, will move from a one-bedroom apartment he shares with his family into a new home in the Dansville-Ridgecrest neighborhood in Largo.

Habitat for Humanity has completed 83 homes in the Greater Ridgecrest community with an additional 13 residential lots in various stages of development.

The group builds homes with homeowner partners and sells them with a 0% interest fixed-rate mortgage. A down payment is not required, but buyers must provide a $1,000 flat fee towards the closing costs.

"That 0% mortgage rate is what keeps that home affordable," Mike Sutton, CEO and president of the local alliance, said to Pinellas County Commissioners during a Tuesday, March 26th meeting, presenting the latest update.

To be eligible, residents must have at least one year of verifiable income, the ability to pay the mortgage, enroll and complete 36 Habitat for Humanity classes, which aim to change behaviors while providing financial management guidance, and contribute 400 to 450 sweat equity hours in building their home with the Habitat team and volunteers.

One of the latest Habitat homes sold was a three-bedroom, two-bathroom house that had a purchase price of $275,000. With mortgage, taxes, and insurance, the family will be paying just over $1,240 per month.

"We have seen tremendous growth over the last 10 years and are producing more than 80 units per year that are all homeownership units," Sutton said.

In Lealman, Habitat added 15 new homes last year. By the end of fiscal year 2026, Habitat will have completed an additional 46 homes with an average appraisal of $350,000.

Additionally, this summer Habitat will begin vertical construction on Longlake Preserve, a 52-unit townhome community off of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Street in Largo.

The community, which received $2 million in funding from Penny for Pinellas, will include two single-family homes.

Sutton said the team expects to complete all infrastructure by June 30th and deliver the homes to the owners by the end of this calendar year.

Habitat also has three projects underway in St. Pete,  including The Grove, a 10-unit townhome development at 1805 18th Avenue South, the Shell Dash townhome project, a 10-unit community planned for 1120 16th Street South, and Pelican Place, a 44-unit community at 2100 18th Avenue South across the street from Tangerine Plaza.

With the new homes coming online, Habitat for Humanity estimates the property taxes paid by Habitat homeowners will surpass $2 million this year. 

During the commission meeting, Sutton and fellow Habitat for Humanity leaders presented a check totaling over $1.622 million of property taxes collected in 2023 from the Habitat homeowners.

Sutton also took the opportunity to announce that Habitat for Humanity has received the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s 2024 Energy Star Partner of the Year Award for the third consecutive year.

The award recognizes organizations' commitments to building new energy-efficient homes that have earned Energy Star certification. The certified homes are at least 10% more energy efficient than those built to code, according to Habitat for Humanity.