I am proud to team up with the women of FINFROCK to once again participate in the Women Build campaign for Habitat for Humanity of Seminole County & Greater Apopka!

Picture yourself working hard in a minimum wage job, or two; just trying to make ends meet.

Imagine being a single parent.  After paying rent and utilities, there’s little left to purchase food, clothing, school supplies, medicine or pay for daycare.  You’ve moved four times in two years trying to find a decent, affordable rental for your family.  A place where the police aren’t regulars, the heat and air conditioning work and free from mold and vermin.

You dream of owning a safe, healthy home.  But no matter how hard you work or how low interest rates are, you can never save enough to qualify for a mortgage.

Hopefully, you will never face this kind of struggle.  However, take a look around you.  Many hardworking families in our community aren’t so fortunate.  They can only dream of a better life for their children.

Current statistics show that Apopka has more than 47,000 residents, with 16.2% living in poverty. 62% are cost burdened, spending as much as 50% of their income on housing.  65% of all single mothers live in poverty.  Located in Orange County, Apopka has the third highest number of families living in poverty in the county.  The cost of rental units and traditional homeownership makes it difficult for lower income families, especially single parents with children, to access affordable housing.  With the average cost of a 2-bedroom unit at $1029 and rising, a single parent working minimum wage must work 2.7 jobs to afford a place to live. 

Helping hardworking families climb out of poverty not only makes sense because “it’s the right thing to do,” it also builds healthier, stronger communities, and reduces health care, policing and social service costs.

The families purchase their home at fair market value and pay an affordable mortgage payment each month.  Just like everyone else, they also pay insurance and property taxes.  Empowered with financial stability, families have more opportunity for better education, health and child care. 

A stable home can make a dramatic difference in the future of children.  No longer subject to frequent moves or crowded and unhealthy conditions, the can begin to thrive.  Math and reading scores improve by more than 30%.  They will be 25% more likely to graduate for high school and 116% more likely to graduate from college.  They will be 20% less likely to become teenager parents and 59% more likely to own their own home.