Rep. Jim Boyd receives a plaque from Habitat for Humanity Florida President Barb Inman, (left) for being a Housing Champion 2017 with Didi Hager, Manatee Habitat Community Programs Manager (right).
Bradenton, Florida (June 22, 2017) – Manatee County Habitat for Humanity dedicated the second new home in Bradenton near Village of Arts with some special guests in attendance on June 10. State Rep. Jim Boyd was there to congratulate Nicole Hamilton and her family on their new home. Barbara Inman, President and CEO of Habitat Florida also joined the celebration along with Hamilton family guests, representatives of Beall’s the Home Sponsor, Manatee Habitat staff, board members and volunteers.
“It is a pleasure to be here for this dedication and to have the opportunity to thank Representative Boyd for his leadership and support of affordable housing on the state level. Florida builds more Habitat homes than any other state for several reasons. Of course, the weather is a big reason, and another is the Community Contribution Tax Credit Program the Florida Legislature supports to help communities build affordable housing,” Ms. Inman said.
Beall’s sponsored the new home at 2206 10th St. West and participates in the Community Contribution Tax Credit Program that also requires the company to provide volunteers to help build the house. Cheryl Woeltjen, Beall’s Public and Government Relations Director, attended the dedication with several of the Beall’s employees who volunteered more than 200 hours on the home’s construction. “Beall’s employees stepped forwarded for this opportunity and loved doing it. It was not difficult to find volunteers and many came out more than once,” Ms. Woeltjen said.
Nicole Hamilton with children Aunica 15, Ailish 9, and son Cadian 10 in front of her new Habitat home dedicated June 10.
This is 127th house Manatee Habitat has built since it was founded in 1994. Nicole Hamilton and her four children are anxious for the day they can move in. “I am so excited to finally be able to have our own home. My kids have been very supportive. All the time I was away working on the house they took care of each other,” Nicole said. Nicole entered the Habitat home buyer program in February of 2015 and has been working steadily towards achieving the goal of home ownership. Nicole has taken home ownership classes and financial literacy to prepare to be a home owner. She is now qualified to purchase her Habitat home with 0% interest mortgage.
A Manatee Habitat home is designed to be sustainable and energy efficient with a lifetime galvanized metal roof, insulated walls made of ICF Block (Insulated Concrete Form) and Hardiboard siding on the exterior. Electric bills in Habitat homes are typically less than $70 a month. Grants from Publix Super Market Charities and Peace River Electric Cooperative contributed to the completion the house.
Cheryl Woeltjen, Beall’s Public and Government Relations Director, receives a framed photo of the Hamilton family and home from Amy Van Dell, Manatee Habitat.
Manatee County Habitat for Humanity received funds from a City of Bradenton Community Block Grant to purchase vacant lots in this neighborhood and build new homes. Two homes have been built, two are currently under construction and two more are planned to break ground in the fall in this neighborhood. All of the planned homes have Habitat home buyers in the program.