MEDIA RELEASE

Who: Pensacola Habitat for Humanity, St. Ann Catholic Parish, Beverly Ishol (longtime Pensacola Habitat supporter and member of St Ann’s congregation), Kristin Allen (future homeowner)

What: St. Ann in partnering with Pensacola Habitat for Humanity to build a home for a Santa Rosa County family. The catholic congregation has been supporting Pensacola Habitat for decades, both financially and through the hard work of volunteers. Beverly Ishol, member of St. Ann’s and devoted advocate of Pensacola Habitat, estimates that the church has built over 25 homes with Pensacola Habitat. St. Ann’s has contributed $25,000 to the construction of this home and will be providing 15 volunteers this Saturday to begin the home’s construction, then 15 more to continue building the following weekend.

The home will be purchased by Santa Rosa County resident Kristin Allen. Kristin is a recently widowed mother of four young children. Her future home is being built on Clemson Road, the street she grew up on and where many family members still reside.

Beverly Ishol and Kristin Allen plan to be at the construction site on Saturday.

Where: 3152 Clemson Rd, Gulf Breeze, FL 32563

When: Saturday, February 23, 2019. Volunteers and staff will be on site from 8am-2pm.

Why: Pensacola Habitat for Humanity has been providing affordable homeownership opportunities to Escambia and Santa Rosa Counties for nearly 37 years. There is a dire need for affordable housing in both our community and the country as a whole. For housing to be considered affordable, a household should not spend over 30% of their income on housing related expenses. However, 1 in 6 households in the US spend half or more of their income on housing. When housing is affordable, it allows for stability. A stable home creates room for financial savings, improved mental and physical health, and capacity for continuing education.

Pensacola Habitat offers affordable homeownership to qualified applicants through no-interest mortgages for new homes that we sell at cost. Our homeowners attend homeowner readiness courses that empower and help them learn the skills necessary for successful homeownership such as home maintenance, budgeting, and repair. Our homeowners go further by investing their “sweat equity” into physically building their own homes—and contributing toward the construction of others’. We believe better prepared homeowners create better citizens, and more engaged neighbors. This is how we’re building up communities, one homeowner at a time.

Contact: Crystal Scott, Director of Resource Development, Pensacola Habitat for Humanity, 850-434-5456 or cscott@pensacolahabitat.org

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About Pensacola Habitat for Humanity

Founded in 1981, Pensacola Habitat for Humanity is a non-profit, ecumenical, Christian ministry whose purpose is to improve communities through sustainable partnerships. Having built and renovated over 1,300 homes, Pensacola Habitat seeks new and innovative ways to positively impact the community through various meaningful projects, including their Home Buyer and Neighborhood Revitalization programs. Pensacola Habitat for Humanity offers unique financing opportunities to qualified applicants to provide affordable home ownership in Escambia and Santa Rosa Counties. For more information, visit rethinkhabitat.org.

About Habitat for Humanity International

Driven by the vision that everyone needs a decent place to live, Habitat for Humanity began in 1976 as a grassroots effort on a community farm in southern Georgia. The Christian housing organization has since grown to become a leading global nonprofit working in more than 1,300 communities throughout 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.

About NeighborWorks America

For nearly 40 years, Neighborhood Reinvestment Corp. (d/b/a NeighborWorks America), a national, nonpartisan, nonprofit, has created opportunities for people to improve their lives and strengthen their communities by providing access to homeownership and safe, affordable rental housing. In the last five years, NeighborWorks organizations have generated more than $27.2 billion in reinvestment in these communities. NeighborWorks America is the nation's leading trainer of community development and affordable housing professionals. For more information, visit nw.org.