Habitat for Humanity of St. Augustine/St. Johns County (Habitat St. Johns) will conduct an open house from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, Sept. 6, for the public to see new homes in its Volusia Woods neighborhood.
The address will be 858 Helen St., St. Augustine (just off Volusia Street near the circle to Four Mile Road.)
Habitat St. Johns will also host two home dedications the next day, Saturday, Sept. 7, from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Habitat staff say home dedications are always uplifting and heartfelt, and they want to share the joy and satisfaction the homeowners experience when the key is presented. Attendees will hear their stories and have an opportunity to congratulate them on becoming the newest Habitat St. Johns homeowners.
The first three homes were built thanks to the support of The Raintree Restaurant, O.C. Whites Seafood & Spirits and Publix Charities. They each partnered to build one of the three homes. Everything Cool has temporarily furnished the homes to give everyone an idea of what a furnished home could look like.
“We invite you to join us at Volusia Woods on Sept. 6 and/or Sept. 7 for these two fun events,” said Malinda Everson, executive director of Habitat for Humanity of St. Augustine/St. Johns County. “We have been looking forward to this for months now! Habitat St. Johns is very proud of the new homeowners. They have all put in a lot of hard work and dedication to get to this point, including over 200 sweat-equity hours each.”
Homeownership, she said, provides the stability, security and opportunity for generational wealth that many take for granted.
“This work wouldn’t be possible without all of our partners, donors, volunteers, the St. Johns County and City of St. Augustine leadership and staff, and everyone else we work with to make this possible,” added Everson. “You are all an important part of the Habitat St. Johns family, and we are lucky and blessed!”
Habitat St. Johns recognized its partners, including Baker Distributing for donating all of the air conditioning systems, St. Augustine Kitchen and Bath for donating all of the kitchen and bathroom countertops, Memorial Presbyterian Church, Knights of Columbus Council 7121 and Knights of Columbus St. John Paul II 16492 for donating the washing machines and dryers, the Board of Realtors for donating the microwaves and dishwashers, and Lowe’s for providing good prices for almost everything else.
In addition, Whirlpool donated the refrigerators and ovens/stoves, Levolor Blinds donated the bedroom and bathroom blinds, and Schneider donated the electrical supplies for all Habitat for Humanity homes throughout the United States.
Volusia Woods is the beginning of a new strategic plan that will help accelerate the pace and building capacity of Habitat St. Johns from an average of six homes per year to 30 homes per year by 2028-29. Habitat St. Johns is replicating the model other Habitat Florida affiliates have successfully implemented to enable them to build more than 30 homes each year to better meet the needs of the county’s workers and residents.
Volusia Woods is Habitat St. Johns’ fourth neighborhood in just over 30 years of operation and will consist of 36 homes when it is finished.
“I cannot emphasize enough the stability alone that comes from owning a Habitat St. Johns home,” said the owner of one of the homes in Habitat St. Johns’ Canopy Oaks neighborhood. “Homeownership provides a sense of security and is a basic need all people should have. The county is growing so quickly, and the housing market is out of control. Safe and affordable housing should be available for everyone, especially the regular working people in our community”.
Habitat for Humanity of St. Augustine/St. Johns County has been serving the county’s families and individuals for more than 30 years and is an affiliate of Habitat for Humanity, International that originated in Americus Georgia in 1976.
Since 1992, Habitat for Humanity of St. Augustine/St. Johns County has built approximately 170 houses for families and individuals in need. To qualify for homeownership, applicants must demonstrate need, ability to pay, willingness to partner through 200 sweat-equity hours and have worked or lived in St. Johns County for at least one year.
