Though the restrictions surrounding COVID-19 have added hurdles for the South Palm Beach County chapter of Habitat for Humanity, the nonprofit remains committed to completing a block of three-bedroom, two-bath homes for eight low-income families.
The stay-at-home restrictions of the past few months not only slowed the pace of construction, prohibiting larger groups of volunteers from building together, but they also delayed two major fundraisers that would have contributed to completing the projects. Still, with the help of its own construction crew and a handful of suppliers, HFHSPBC is pressing on.
“These families have worked more than 250 hours in sweat equity building other Habitat homes, and they’ve completed 100 hours of financial and homeowner literacy curriculum to earn a zero-interest mortgage,” says Randy Nobles, president and CEO of HFHSPBC. “Now, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, they must wait even longer. Right now, until they move into their new homes, they are living in subpar or crowded situations.”
“Habitat Partner Families count on us to fulfill our commitment to them, so we can’t stop—now or ever.”
Among the family matriarchs whose home is nearly finished but requires a financial push to complete is Cassandra Bradley, a mother of three and grandmother of 12. For nearly a year in her 20s, Bradley and her sons were homeless and lived out of her car. She earned her commercial driver’s license and has worked for the Palm Beach County transit system as a driver for nearly 25 years. Bradley will be the first of her seven siblings to own a home.
To learn more about Habitat for Humanity’s efforts, or to make a much-needed donation, visit habitatsouthpalmbeach.org.
