HABITAT NEWS

Hannah Edwards Hannah Edwards

Community Foundation’s Grant Helps Expand Habitat’s Impact

Fletcher first came to Habitat as a volunteer. His heart for service and the connections he built with families quickly made him an essential part of our mission.

“I reached a point in my life where I wanted to help others,” Fletcher shared. “I started volunteering, and through that experience, Habitat reached out and offered me a position.”

Since joining our staff, Fletcher’s work has touched nearly every corner of Habitat’s operations — from supporting new home construction and maintaining existing properties to lending a hand with landscaping and project upkeep. But his favorite part of the job is clear:

“My favorite part is working with volunteers. It absolutely inspires me to continue doing this work. It reinforces that humanity is still very much alive.”

This grant-funded role shows that affordable housing is more than just building homes — it’s about building community, one relationship at a time.

We’re so grateful to the Community Foundation of the Florida Keys for helping make Fletcher’s role possible. Together, we’re building homes, communities, and hope here in the Keys. Want to get involved? Click Here!

Read More
Hannah Edwards Hannah Edwards

From the Base to Big Pine Key: A Day of Service and Smiles

The 920th First Sergeants Group from Patrick Air Force Base traded uniforms for paint brushes in Big Pine! See how this lively crew spent the day building alongside future homeowner Jennifer Cepero and her kids — and the surprise ride that made it all possible.

Read More
Hannah Edwards Hannah Edwards

Repeat Volunteers from Suntree United Methodist Church Youth Ministry

On 6/24/2025 Suntree UMC Youth Ministry came down to Big Pine Key FL for two days of volunteering!

This returning group brought their energy, attention to detail, and uplifting spirit as they painting drywall and columns with care—transforming our space one brushstroke at a time.

Read More
Hannah Edwards Hannah Edwards

Owls Summer Break Volunteer Group 2025

A long-overdue thank you to the Summer 2025 Owl Break volunteers from Florida Atlantic University — your time with us in May made a real and lasting impact.

This incredible group of students spent two full days in Big Pine Key, helping us bring our newest Habitat homes one step closer to completion. From painting the undersides and columns to trimming trees and cleaning up yards, they tackled every task with energy, teamwork, and unwavering positivity.

Read More
Hannah Edwards Hannah Edwards

2025 Habitat Gala was a Success!

On April 4, 2025, the historic Truman Little White House came alive with laughter, community, and purpose as we hosted our annual Habitat Gala — our biggest fundraiser of the year. With twinkling lights overhead and generous hearts all around, the evening was a celebration of what happens when people come together to build something bigger than themselves.

This gala isn’t just a party — it’s a lifeline. Every dollar raised supports our mission to provide safe, affordable housing for hardworking families right here in our community. Thanks to the incredible support of our attendees, sponsors, and volunteers, the 2025 Gala was not just a success — it was a night that will truly help change lives.

Here’s to another year of building homes, hope, and community — together.

Read More
Hannah Edwards Hannah Edwards

The Community Foundation of the Florida Keys’ “Up and Over” grant helps Habitat extend Critical Repair Program through Big Pine Key

In December of 2023, Habitat for Humanity of Key West and Lower Florida Keys was awarded a grant of $15,000 from the Community Foundation of the Florida Keys to extend our critical repair program from Key West through Big Pine Key.

At Habitat Lower Keys, our mission is to build strength and stability through safe and affordable housing. Going beyond constructing homes and providing rentals, our critical home repair program recognizes the importance helping low-income families maintain safe homes, and of helping older adults age safely at home.

Read More
Hannah Edwards Hannah Edwards

Habitat receives a $15,000 grant from Wells Fargo to perform critical repairs to a home in Key West

Habitat for Humanity was grateful for the help of volunteers from Wells Fargo that helped finish up a critical repair job for and elderly low-income couple this week. The critical home repairs were made possible through the Wells Fargo Builds program, which supports the construction, renovation and repairing of more than 350 affordable homes across the U.S.. Repairs made to this home included a remodeled front porch, which will enable the homeowners to access their home without fearing for their safety.

Read More
Hannah Edwards Hannah Edwards

Key West Navy Chiefs Assist with Hurricane Ian Property Clean-Up

Habitat for Humanity was grateful for the help of a group of dedicated Navy Chiefs for a property clean-up last Saturday. This was one of a series of hurricane relief property clean-ups that Habitat has been organizing since Hurricane Ian swept by the Keys on September 28th, causing local flood and wind damage.

Read More
Hannah Edwards Hannah Edwards

Habitat Receives a $15,000 Grant from Wells Fargo to Build a Home in Cudjoe Key

Habitat for Humanity of Key West and the Lower Florida Keys recently received a $15,000 grant from the Wells Fargo Foundation to help build a home in their Moss Landing development on Cudjoe Key in the Lower Florida Keys. Habitat for Humanity of Key West and the Lower Florida Keys is one of more than 230 Habitat for Humanity affiliates awarded a grant from the Wells Fargo Foundation as part of its nationwide initiative to help low to moderate income families build and improve their homes across the U.S.

Read More
Hannah Edwards Hannah Edwards

Home Dedication Ceremony Held for 3 New Homeowner Families

Habitat staff and board members, local government officials, neighbors, friends and family recently gathered to celebrate the occasion of three hard-working families moving into their new homes in Cudjoe Key with a Home Dedication Ceremony.

Read More
Hannah Edwards Hannah Edwards

Habitat Staff & Volunteers Enjoy a Community Volunteer Day Painting the Fence at the Key West Lighthouse

Last week for their first community volunteer day, the Habitat staff and some of their volunteers got together to repaint the fence at the Key West Lighthouse & Keepers Quarters Museum, one of the landmark museums operated by the Key West Art & Historical Society. It was a hot day but volunteers worked quickly and had a great time doing it. “It was great to participate in something that had such an immediate, visible impact on the community,” said Terence White, who works as the office manager for Habitat. “It was also really nice to be out of the office and to get to experience another aspect of the work Habitat does. And I got to climb to the top of the lighthouse!”

Read More
Hannah Edwards Hannah Edwards

Habitat’s Home Repair Program Helps Keep Homes Safe & Accessible

Habitat for Humanity of Key West and Lower Florida Keys, with sponsorship from the City of Key West, makes necessary home repairs for low-income residents to ensure their homes stay safe and accessible. We recently coordinated with Gary the Carpenter to construct a new ramp to allow Rick Smith and his girlfriend Tricia Consiglio to safely access his condo. We believe home repairs are a necessary component of preserving our current stock of affordable housing.

Read More
Hannah Edwards Hannah Edwards

Why Home Matters: Who Has Access to Homeownership?

Home prices are increasing rapidly but household incomes have not kept pace, putting homeownership out of reach for many. Habitat advocates for public policies on land acquisition, use and development to lower the cost of homebuilding, and prices Habitat homes at fair market value to reflect prevailing market conditions. Learn more about how Habitat is removing barriers to accessible homeownership in the Lower Florida Keys.

Read More
Hannah Edwards Hannah Edwards

Volunteers Work Alongside Homeowners on Cudjoe Key

Groups of volunteers from all walks of life in the Lower Keys community came out May 21 and May 28 to work alongside Habitat Homebuyers to put the finishing touches on their Cudjoe Key homes. Volunteers helped with: Painting Interior Walls, Painting Exterior Columns, Staining & Sealing Decks & Stairs, Lattice Installation, Clearing Debris and Landscaping. A delicious hot lunch was cooked by one of the Homeowners and provided for everyone on both Saturdays.

Read More
Hannah Edwards Hannah Edwards

Habitat Gala was a Blast!

Supporters of Habitat for Humanity of Key West and Lower Florida Keys enjoyed a lovely evening under the stars at Habitat’s Annual Gala, held at Truman’s Little White House last Thursday, April 28th. Guests celebrated with lively conversation, cocktails, games, dining, dancing, and lots of color. It had been 2 years since our last gala, our main fundraising event which helps fund Habitat’s affordable housing mission, and everyone was excited to celebrate and contribute generously to the mission.

Read More
Hannah Edwards Hannah Edwards

Students Celebrate “Alternative Spring Break”

Several groups of students recently chose to spend their spring break vacations using their powers for good and helping Habitat for Humanity of Key West and Lower Florida Keys with various important projects.

Read More
Hannah Edwards Hannah Edwards

Application Cycle Extended!


APPLICATION PERIOD NOW OPEN! ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS 3/1/22—3/31/22! Click here to download an application. Haga clic aquí para descargar una aplicación en español. Please review the information in the Buy a Home section of the website to see if this program might be a good fit for your family.

Read More
Hannah Edwards Hannah Edwards

Habitat Warehouse Now Open

Habitat Warehouse on Rockland Key now open Wednesdays from 2:00pm-6:00pm, Thursdays 9:00am-12:00pm and Saturdays from 8:00am-12:00pm!

Read More
Hannah Edwards Hannah Edwards

Neighbors Helping Neighbors

Habitat for Humanity of Key West and Lower Florida Keys recently received grant funding from the Community Foundation of the Florida Keys to help fund our new Neighbors Helping Neighbors initiative.

Read More
Hannah Edwards Hannah Edwards

Warehouse Sale Was Big Success

Our first Warehouse Sale in our new Rockland Key location was held on January 15th and was a huge success! Despite being a little tricky to find, our new Habitat Warehouse is off to a great start.

Read More