In St. Petersburg and across Tampa Bay, workforce housing directly impacts employee retention, stability and the strength of the community.
Teachers, health care workers, government employees, nonprofit professionals, hospitality workers and service employees are increasingly priced out of the communities they serve. Habitat for Humanity Tampa Bay Gulfside offers qualified applicants an accessible path to affordable homeownership through education, preparation, sweat equity and an affordable mortgage.
Habitat serves individuals and families who live or work in Pinellas, West Pasco or Hernando counties and who demonstrate a need for affordable housing, the ability to pay an affordable mortgage and a willingness to partner with Habitat through financial education and sweat equity.
Many of the people exploring Habitat homeownership are part of the local workforce:
Educators and school employees who support students and families every day
Health care workers who care for patients across the region
Government employees and public servants who keep communities operating
Nonprofit professionals, hospitality workers and service employees who help power the local economy
Habitat homeownership requires commitment from qualified applicants. Qualified applicants complete a prequalification process, participate in financial education, contribute sweat equity and purchase their home with an affordable mortgage through Habitat. For qualified applicants, this can include $0 down payment, 0% APR mortgage and $0 PMI required, subject to Habitat program acceptance and completion.
In St. Petersburg, Habitat is currently building Pelican Place, a 40-unit townhome community that will create new affordable homeownership opportunities for local families. For employers, communities like Pelican Place represent more than housing. They are a workforce-stability tool that helps essential employees stay connected to the city they support every day.
For employers, Habitat can be a trusted resource to support employees and anchor essential talent in the region. Employer partners can share homeownership information through staff communications, information sessions, custom outreach and digital resources at no cost to the organization.
Why Employers Partner With Habitat
Stronger Teams: Increase retention and loyalty by supporting employees.
Less Financial Stress: Affordable homeownership helps employees build stability and focus on what matters.
Meaningful Benefit: Offer a no-cost benefit that makes a real difference in your workforce.
Jade's Story
Jade Copeland is a recent Habitat homeowner, a parent and a teacher in the community. Before Habitat, her family's home did not meet the accessibility needs of her son, who underwent multiple surgeries. Daily life was filled with physical and emotional obstacles.
Through Habitat, Jade had the opportunity to purchase a home that supports her family, removes barriers and gives her son a safe place to heal. Through sweat equity and partnership, she gained pride, stability and hope.
As a teacher, Jade is not just working in this community. She is living in it permanently, with deeper roots in the community. Stable housing helps her show up with more energy and focus for her students and strengthens the broader community where she and her family live, work and grow.
Bring this benefit to your team
Habitat partners with local employers through information sessions, custom outreach and homeownership education to help employees access opportunity and build stronger, more resilient communities.
Phone: (727) 536-4755
Website: habitatTBG.org/apply