Habitat for Humanity Marks Record Year in Southwest Florida

Habitat for Humanity of Lee and Hendry Counties has helped nearly 2,000 families since its inception in 1982.

Average homebuyers in Lee County typically make $42,506 a year. To be eligible, income needs to be between 30% and 80% of the area's median.

Vanessa Rivera became a Habitat homeowner. Getting there wasn't easy — she put in 300 hours of building work over 20 months, along with improving her income and paying off loans. After Hurricane Ian caused damage to the home she was renting and a subpar landlord who was slow to make repairs, she knew something needed to change. She now pays $1,085 instead of her old $1,800 rent.

“I was putting my everything into my child,” Rivera told Naples Daily News. “I kind of put myself on the back burner. I kept pulling away from succeeding in life.”

The Lee County branch aims to complete 62 new homes by June. Their Collier County sister organization ranks among the nation's most active, building 90 to 100 homes each year.