A local family achieved the homeownership dream with help from Habitat for Humanity of the Upper Keys.
On June 29, members of the community visited Valencia Drive in Key Largo to celebrate new HfHUK homebuyers Rafael Perez and Yanet Miranda. Perez has owned and operated his local business, a car wash, for 15 years, while Miranda has worked for Sandal Factory since 2007. Through the years, they put in the dedication and hard work to achieve the homeownership dream.
Scott Goss, HfHUK executive director, said Habitat uses a stringent process to vet the families who are applying for affordable housing. Habitat homes are sold to partner families, which must be a low-income household based on Monroe County guidelines, at no profit. They are financed with affordable, no-interest loans.
“We go out and do site visits to their current home and see their living conditions. At Habitat we look for need and ability to pay … because we’re not just giving away homes,” Goss said.
Qualified families must also put in sweat equity before attaining a home.
HfHUK offered gratitude to CBT Construction, which built the home, and donors including Publix, Baptist Health Mariners Hospital, Community Foundation of the Florida Keys and Ocean Reef Community Foundation.
More information is at habitatupperkeys.org.
