| He's making a difference in our children's future. A house would make a difference in his.
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Kenneth teaches history and coaches wrestling at an Orlando high school. As a single dad, he and his son currently live with his parents in Lake County, and they commute over an hour to the school. His teacher's salary is not enough for him to afford an entry-level home in Orlando. "It is a real struggle for myself and my family living so far from Orlando," he said.
Kenneth is not alone. Through Face the Housing Crisis™, we seek not only to raise awareness about the housing crisis but also to mobilize resources, expertise, and public support to tackle this critical issue head-on. But we need your help.
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Looking for resources?We are currently accepting signups for:
🏠 Roof Replacement Program, which offers free roofs to qualified applicants. Learn more >
🌀 Habitat Inspects Program, which offers free wind mitigation inspections to reduce homeowners insurance premiums. Learn more >
🤝 HUD Housing Counseling, which offers free one-on-one counseling to those looking to buy a home or preserve their affordable home. Learn more >
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Meet CyndiPre-K teacher says forever home will bring stability and security to her family
Cyndi is counting down the days until her family can finally have refuge in their brand-new, affordable Habitat home. The last few years have been full of unimaginable grief for her and her four children. “We have overcome many obstacles to get to this point, yet we are still struggling with the loss of my daughter to bone cancer two years ago,” she said.
Even though she works hard to create brighter futures for young children as a Pre-K teacher, her income was not enough to keep up with the skyrocketing rental and housing prices in Central Florida.
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Thank you, Orlando Magic, for sponsoring Cyndi's home!
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| Upcoming free classesHabitat U classes and HUD First Time Homebuyer Workshops are free but space is limited, so please reserve your space today!
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Support Habitat while you shop at Kendra Scott
When: Saturday, Oct. 28 from 2:30-4:30 p.m.
Where: Kendra Scott at Winter Park Village and Mall at Millenia
When you shout out Habitat Orlando & Osceola at checkout, Kendra Scott will donate 20% of your purchase to us!
Can't make it to a store? Shop online with code "GIVEBACK-ENQWA" from Oct. 28 to Oct. 29. You can also call 407-217-9280 to place your phone order.
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Team Build 2023-2024 season in full swingVolunteer groups returned to the build site in September after a summer break and hit the ground running. Thanks to Ravago, Correct Craft, Wells Fargo and WillScot MobileMini for your support of our mission and generous gift to help families access safe, affordable homeownership.
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| From the experts in our Program Services and Construction departments
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Fall is the time to focus on exterior maintenanceAs we officially enter Autumn and the weather transitions from sauna to something a little more ideal, now is the time to get outside and start paying attention to the upkeep of your home’s exterior.
- Carefully check out the condition of your roof. After the intensity of summer storms, now is a great time to check on your roof to look for any worn or loose shingles and ensure there are no standing piles of leaves or debris in your gutters or valleys of the roof. They will prevent proper drainage from rainfall, and standing debris can accelerate the deterioration of your roof.
- Inspect exterior paint for any bubbles or flaking, paying particular attention to seams where your siding meets trim around windows and doors for any cracking. A good cleaning and supplemental caulking around window and door seams can go a long way toward preserving the exterior of your home.
- Check weather stripping around windows and doors to ensure you have a good seal at these openings to maximize the energy efficiency of your home.
- Inspect all your vents and ducts. The Farmer’s Almanac has predicted a cold, wet winter for the Southeast and, if it’s to be believed, making sure your vents are clear will help when it’s time to turn on the heat. Also, take the time to make sure your dryer vent is free of lint buildup, as this could increase the risk of fire if an accumulation of lint is repeatedly exposed to the high heat of your dryer. The Home Depot has a helpful, short video to help you learn how to clean out your own dryer vent:
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- As for landscaping, now is the time when growth starts to slow, so you can adjust both your mowing and watering schedule and do a light pruning of your trees and shrubs. Now is also a great time to start a compost pile so it will have time to break down before the spring growing season. Check out these compost tips from the University of Florida Extension Service to get started.
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Ladder and fire safety while decorating
Halloween season is in full swing and the holiday season is right around the corner. Whether you are adorning your home with scary creatures and bright lights or decorating a Christmas tree with sentimental ornaments, it is important to decorate safely to ensure your holidays remain accident-free.
Ladder safety
If you are stringing lights around your home for the holidays, pay attention to the following ladder safety tips:
• Do not decorate alone, have a family or friend help stabilize the ladder.
• Follow your ladder’s instructions and warning labels.
• Check your ladder before climbing it for any damage.
• Place the ladder on level ground, do not try to stabilize it using rocks.
• Maintain three points of contact with the ladder and do not overextend/stretch.
Holiday lights can be a fire hazard if not handled correctly. Keep the following tips in mind to prevent fires this holiday season:
• Inspect all lights, decorations, and extension cords for damage before using.
• Turn off and unplug decorative lights before leaving the house and going to bed.
• Avoid overloading electrical outlets with too many lights or decorations to decrease the chance of electrical fires.
• Monitor candles, and keep all decorations at least 3 feet away from candles and heating equipment.
• Test your smoke detectors and alarms and have a fire extinguisher in your home in case of emergency.
By following these holiday decorating safety tips, you can enjoy a delightful holiday with family and friends, without compromising on safety!
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Celebrating Robert & JenniferWe are so grateful for Enterprise Holdings' continuous support of our mission and our work to Face The Housing Crisis™. We recently held a Home Dedication with homeowners Robert and Jennifer and their 6-year-old son to celebrate their hard work and the impact of our partnership with Enterprise. This year, through our partnership, three of Habitat’s future homeowners were able to able to achieve their ambitions of affordable homeownership.
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Workgroup Launch & OrientationCornerstone Housing™ Framework
We are grateful for the overwhelming response of those willing to engage in the work to Face The Housing Crisis™ in Central Florida. On Sept. 28, we held an orientation for our workgroups, comprised of business and local government leaders and citizens.
The mission is to restore the social and economic benefits of a balanced housing system through innovation pilots in collective leadership, public policy, and community reinvestment. Learn more & get involved at FaceTheHousingCrisis.org.
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Supporter Spotlight: Universal Orlando FoundationWe are deeply thankful to the Universal Orlando Foundation for their support in helping us launch Habitat Inspects! This life-changing home preservation program, which offers disaster preparedness education and free wind mitigation inspections, wouldn't be possible without Universal's generous funding.
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Donors 70.5 and older: Consider a gift from your IRAIf you’re 70.5 or older and have a traditional IRA, you can also make a donation from your account using this secure online tool to drive our work forward. An IRA gift will make a difference on your future tax returns while helping us build affordable housing, revitalize neighborhoods, and strengthen communities.
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