Habitat For Humanity Tackles Affordable Home Crisis In Pinellas And Pasco Counties

PINELLAS COUNTY, FL — On Friday morning, Brianna Clayton, a single mom to 5-year-old daughter, Paisley, completed her journey to affordable homeownership and, at the same time, Habitat for Humanity of Pinellas and West Pasco Counties celebrated its landmark completion of the nonprofit's 800th home.

Clayton, who works at Buffalo Wild Wings, completed 472 sweat equity hours and 32 homebuyer educations classes on her path to homeownership. She earned a zero-interest mortgage, which will keep her new home in Lealman affordable for the life of the loan.

"Two years ago, I did not think homeownership was possible for me," said Clayton. "The journey to get here was not an easy one, but then Habitat told me I was in the program. I can give Paisley a safe and stable place to call home."

Clayton's home was built with SIPS panels, which were donated by the Gramatica Family Foundation.

Former Tampa Bay Buccaneer and current head coach of the National Indoor Soccer League Team, the Tampa Bay Strikers, Martin Gramatica, and his brothers founded Gramatica SIPS International, which provides green, energy-efficient insulated panels for construction.

Gramatica's foundation provides the panels free to nonprofits such as Habitat for Humanity and organizations that build homes for wounded veterans.

Clayton's home also comes equipped with solar panels, donated by Solar Bear. Additionally, she was surprised with a $1,000 scholarship to continue her education at St. Petersburg College, so she can achieve her dream of becoming a teacher.

More than 120 sponsors donated at least $800 toward the 800th Habitat home.

"No matter what life throws at you, you can pick yourself up and conquer the world," said Clayton.

Habitat Pinellas and West Pasco has been a driving force and advocate for affordable homeownership opportunities in the community since 1985.

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Out of 1,000 Habitat for Humanity affiliates across the country, the organization is ranked No. 1 for new home builds. Over the last 12 months, Habitat Pinellas-Pasco completed more new homes than any other affiliate in the country.

It celebrated its 700th home in August 2021 with the completion of the Sakers family's home in the nonprofit's Tellor Estates development in Pinellas Park

Habitat for Humanity of Pinellas and Pasco County followed up its efforts to quickly build affordable homes, filling a dire need in Tampa Bay, by providing four families with the keys to their new homes on Tuesday.

"This is like the best part of the job to welcome new residents to Clearwater, especially first-time homeowners," said Clearwater Vice Mayor Kathleen Beckman at the celebration for the Inguanzo family's new home. "I was at the celebration of the 800th home Friday but receiving the 801st home is just as important and memorable."

Cuban immigrant Yuliet Inguanzo, with her two children by her side, couldn't contain her tears when she spoke of how much that moment meant to her.

"My dad always said, 'As soon as you get your first home, you have the American dream,'" she said. "That's all we've talked about, how we wanted to make it here. It was hard work. I never knew I would have a chance to build my own home. I don't think I would have ever made it without the help of everybody."

She said the first thing she planned to do after getting her children settled into their new home on Taft Avenue in Clearwater was to call her father in Cuba and tell him she finally achieved the American dream.

Also receiving the keys to a new home on Tennessee Avenue in New Port Richey after putting in sweat equity and completing homebuyer education courses was Jessica Sutherland. She and her son, Isaiah, age 10, were previously homeless.

The Sutherland's home was sponsored by Ford of Port Richey with the Morgan Auto Group

"This is their first time sponsoring a home and we are very grateful for our growing partnership and for all of their volunteer hours that their employees put in," said Habitat for Humanity of Pinellas and West Pasco County CEO and President Mike Sutton. "We look forward to continuing this partnership."

Sutherland is a receptionist and medical assistant in training at an Urgent Care in Clearwater where she's worked for about a year.

In 2015, Sutherland, a single mother, and her son were living on their own and eventually found themselves homeless and in transitional housing shelters.

“It was an answered prayer, a breakthrough and a birthday and Christmas gift to both me and my son since our birthdays were December 18th and 19th," Sutherland said. “I see my son and I bonding even more together in our home. I see the space and opportunity for more structure in our weekly routines. I won’t have to worry about moving another year or wondering if I’m going to be homeless. My house will be a house of peace and a place of love and growth.”

Habitat Restores in Clearwater and New Port Richey helped fund the Clearwater homes.

The Habitat Restores offer building supplies, furniture and home goods for sale to the public with all proceeds going back to Habitat for Humanity.

"This year we are able to build three homes that are funded by the ReStores," said Sutton. "Thank you to everyone who has shopped, donated or volunteered with us."

Among them was a home on High Street in New Port Richey for Courtney Burns, an administrative assistant for Pasco County Utilities and the single mother of four children, ages 15, 13, 5 years and 1-month-old baby.

“Our current living situation is a 790-square-foot double-wide mobile home,” Burns said. “The main issue is space. There is nowhere to put anything and the home feels so cluttered and confined, it tends to get overwhelming for everyone at times. There is no room for a kitchen table, so we just eat anywhere there is a spot. Being able to eat dinner around a table with your children is very important, as I feel it is one of the biggest ways to communicate and have conversations with your kids.”

She said her first thought after being accepted into the Habitat for Humanity program was that she'd finally have a kitchen table.

“My children have never lived in an actual house. We have lived in mobile homes or apartments," she said. "So to even be able to live in a home is life changing.

Also receiving keys to their new homes was the Becerra-Martinez family with the help of a sponsorship from Pinellas County Partnerships. Their home is located on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive in Tarpon Springs.

“This is a great opportunity to have our own home and we will always be united and together as a happy family.”
Victor Becerra and Maria Martinez have six children ranging in age from 2-year-old twin girls to 17 years old. Due to the high cost of rents, they were living in a cramped apartment and longed for a home where their kids could run and play without disturbing neighbors.

“The space is not enough for the children to grow and develop, and we have to restrict them from running due to causing noise for neighbors," Maria Martinez said. "They are not free to play like a normal child. The high prices in rent and market prevent us from finding a better situation with our current income. We just want to grow a happy family in a better environment.”

Victor Becerra said he's looking forward to creating new memories with his family in their own home.

“We can do daily house chores and not worry about making noise. We can have a garden to grow vegetables for our family," he said. “It’s worth your time and effort that you put into the program, and something that will stay with you for the rest of your life."

In addition to the sponsors, the families were presented gifts to start their lives in their new homes from Feeding Tampa Bay, U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis, GFWC Nature Coast Woman's Club, West Pasco Quilters' Guild Inc., the New Port Richey Police Department, the Pasco County Sheriff's Office, the Upper Tampa Bay Regional Chamber of Commerce with Kids Pedal Power, Costa Vatikiotis, Kathleen Beckman and the Clearwater City Council, the City of Clearwater, GFWC St. Petersburg Junior Woman’s Club, Largo Cracker Quilters, U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, Congressman Gus Bilirakis, U.S. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, Pinellas County Commissioner Charlie Justice, the Pinellas County Government, Pipo's The Original Cuban Cafe and the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office.

To apply to be the recipient of a Habitat for Humanity home, click here.