Habitat for Humanity of Greater Orlando Area recently celebrated World Habitat Day with a special ceremony dedicated to the completion of Stag Horn Villas, its first multifamily community.
On World Habitat Day, a day designated as the first Monday in October by the United Nations, more than 2,050 Habitat for Humanity affiliates worldwide join together to raise awareness about the need for affordable housing. In Orlando, 17 percent of residents live at or below the poverty line – and of that figure, 35 percent are single-parent families with children.
“We couldn’t think of a better way to recognize World Habitat Day, than by celebrating the completion of Stag Horn Villas,” said Dee Danmeyer, president and CEO of Habitat for Humanity of Greater Orlando Area. “This is our first multifamily community and our first green building effort – a milestone for our affiliate.”
The ceremony also marked the announcement of Habitat of Greater Orlando’s next community – Butler’s Preserve. This “new urbanism” community of 59 affordable homes will be constructed on a piece of property in the Malibu Groves area (west Orange county), which has been undeveloped for more than 20 years. Butler’s Preserve is named after Mable Butler, a longtime advocate for affordable housing and former District 6 Orange County Commissioner.
“Because of the efforts from donors, volunteers and the homeowners themselves, we’ve provided affordable housing for 58 more families in Central Florida at Stag Horn Villas – including 82 children,” said Danmeyer.
Completing the 3.9-acre, 58-townhome community, located off Silver Star Road, near Mercy Drive, was a community effort. Financing the $8 million community took contributions from 3,591 corporate and individual donors and more than 20,000 volunteers. Nearly 370,000 volunteer hours were logged during the project.
During the event, Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs and Oren Henry, director of housing for the City of Orlando spoke about the stabilizing effect on neighborhoods Stag Horn Villas has had on both the city and the county.
Representatives from HD Supply, Hannover Life Reassurance Company of America and Thrivent Financial for Lutherans were also in attendance and shared their experience as some of the first major donors to sign on to the community. Deirdre Irwin, Florida Water Star Coordinator for the Saint John’s Water Management District, presented Habitat of Greater Orlando with the Community Water Star certificate for Stag Horn Villas – the second complete Community Florida Water Star certification issued in the district and the fifth statewide.
