Nearly three years ago, elementary school teacher Sarah Adams was working overtime just to make ends meet.
After being chosen as the recipient of a Habitat for Humanity home, she was able to return to further her professional education, and this summer, she will graduate from Florida State University with a Master’s Degree in Educational Policy and Administration.
She’s seen her life come full circle, and now Adams is anxious to help other local families achieve the goal of homeownership, too. She is now serving on the Middle Keys Habitat for Humanity’s Board of Directors and will be actively involved in the organization’s numerous upcoming events.
“I’m excited about being a part of the family selection committee that will help another family remain in the Keys to work and be invested in our community,” Adams noted.
Habitat for Humanity of the Middle Keys is hosting two affordable homeownership orientation meetings on Tuesday, April 26 at 7 pm and Saturday, April 30 at 10 am at St. Columba Episcopal Church located at 451 52nd Street (behind Dot Palm) in the Parish Hall.
Though the next family to be placed will not move into a home pre-built by Marathon High School students as part of the Habitech House, a phenomenal partnership between the international organization and local school district, Executive Director Lili Huergo said at least one family will become homeowners this year. The Habitech House partnership has been put on hold, but they hope to unveil another home for someone in the community in the next academic school year; without land on which to place a home, there’s little sense in pushing another model out the door, she noted.
“Right now, we have money to build but no land on which to build it,” Huergo elaborated. “We may end up buying existing homes like we did last year, but our hope is to have at least one family placed this year.”
Middle Keys Habitat for Humanity President Bruce Ferraro recently appeared before the Marathon City Council requesting permission to build homes on the vacant lot at 104th Street in Marathon currently owned by the city, but several councilmen questioned whether or not the existing plans fully maximized the available land.
Last summer, Middle Keys Habitat placed nearly half a dozen hard-working families in the town homes adjacent to Coral Lagoon Resort and Marina, and each time another family moves into a home, the wave of support from the community is overwhelming.
“Either way, it’s just going to take some time,” Huergo noted, adding that the community is always invited to attend the organization’s monthly board meetings the second Thursday of each month at San Pablo Catholic Church at 6 pm.
Habitat for Humanity of the Middle Keys will be hosting affordable home ownership meetings on Tuesday, April 26 at 7 pm or Saturday, April 30 at 10 am at St. Columba Episcopal Church Parish Hall, located at 451 W. 52nd Street Gulfside. This meeting is a requirement for anyone who wishes to apply for a Habitat home. For questions, please call Lili Huergo at (305) 743-9828.
