January Newsletter

Habitat Partner Families Build Their Own Housing Solutions 

Habitat for Humanity’s work is often referred to as the gold standard in affordable homeownership. We reach those for whom homeownership is not possible in the traditional marketplace, and we provide critical home repairs to support low-income homeowners.

For over 46 years, Habitat for Humanity’s comprehensive housing program has engaged Habitat partner families through education, training, and the building of their very own housing solution. And of course, our partner families’ affordable mortgage payments are recycled to help Habitat build additional homes for others. This “self-help” pathway to achieve homeownership puts our future homeowners at the center of creating their own housing solution. No one does this better.

A less well-known activity of Habitat for Humanity is the advocacy of decent, affordable housing for all with a diversity of housing solutions.

We recognize that homeownership is not the solution for everyone. Our advocacy includes using our knowledge and experience in support of the creation of all housing types; homeownership, leasing, and transitional housing that stabilizes fragile families. Using our voices and our expertise, we bring people together to build communities that offer housing for all.

April 1st at Treasure Coast Lexus

The Playhouse Build is a unique event that brings the St. Lucie County community together to build playhouses for children of local military veterans and first responders.

Please join us on Saturday, April 1st at 10 A.M. at Treasure Coast Lexus in Fort Pierce where our Playhouse Build sponsors will present their custom playhouses to first responder and veteran families.

If you would like to get involved or are interested in sponsoring the event, please call Kate at 772-464-1117 ext. 121 or email Kate@stluciehabitat.org.

HIP Family Partners Contribute

 Sweat Equity Hours

Hagan Family's

Home Build Progressing!

Steady Progress

The Hagan family’s ADA compliant home construction is making steady progress. The roof is decked. The framing of the interior has begun with our HIP's contributing to the work with their sweat equity hours. Each part of the construction's completion brings them closer to having their dream come true - a place to call home.

Introducing Our New HIP Partners

Latasha and son, Kevon - New Homeowner-in-Process Partners



With her “can do” attitude and a positive mindset, Latasha Cochrane, a single parent of five children including two sons who are both in wheelchairs due to Cerebral Palsy, seizures, and scoliosis, always meets her family’s challenges with optimism and a determination to overcome them. Latasha and her 20 year-old son, Kevon are now two of St. Lucie Habitat’s new HIP Partners. Kevon wants the best for his mother and brothers, so he was more than willing to step up to be a co-buyer with his mother.

Latasha’s other sons are Talique,18 years old; Tavarie,17 years old and in a wheelchair; K’jahni, 12 years old and in a wheelchair; and Messiah, 6 years old. Her family enjoys going to community events and events for special needs children.

Because of Latasha's fortitude and resolve to create a more stable life for her sons and Kevon’s dedication and commitment to his family, they are on the road to fulfilling a dream of owning their own home. The family’s home will be ADA compliant to accommodate the special needs of her two sons.

Latasha is a food service associate at the St. Lucie County School system. The flexible hours allows her more time to care for Tavarie and K’jahni. Kevon works full time in a remote position in the furniture retail industry. He dreams of having his own business one day.

The road that led Latasha to St. Lucie Habitat was paved with constant uncertainty of where she and her family were going to live. With frequent moves, increases in rent, living in unsafe neighborhoods where she experienced home thefts and neighborhood violence; her desire to change her situation grew stronger. She received approval for Section 8 public housing and found a home to rent. The home was sold, and the new owner did not want to continue within Section 8 program.

She discovered St. Lucie Habitat through a co-worker when the application process for the new homeownership program was open. Latasha quickly applied along with her son, Kevon. They were ecstatic when notified of their approval. Through the new homeownership application process, she says persistence – a stay with it and do not quit attitude along with always keeping positive is important.

All the while leading up to her approval, Latasha went to St. Lucie Habitat home dedication ceremonies to show her support and happiness for the new homeowners.

Latasha and her sons that can contribute to the 300 hours of sweat equity are looking forward to it knowing it is for their very own home.

When you ask Latasha what her new home will mean to her and her sons, she says “comfort, love, peace of mind, a sense of safety and permanence.” She and her family are looking forward to meeting their new neighbors and making new friends. Latasha and Kevon want the home to stay in the family so they always have a safe place to live. Kevon is thankful to St. Lucie Habitat, the donors, and sponsors for the opportunity to build a wonderful new home for his family.

Latasha’s and Kevon’s dream of owning their own home will soon become a reality. With positivity, enthusiasm, and a commitment to building a better life for their family, these Homeowner-in-Process Partners are unstoppable.

 Amanda and her three children

With her strong abiding faith and motivation to transform the lives of her and her three children through owning their own home, Amanda Hanner is on her way to creating a brighter future for them. She is building a better tomorrow for her family through our homeownership program as one of our latest HIP Partners.

Though she works full time as a closing coordinator at IFG, a boat financing company, Amanda could not afford decent housing in St. Lucie County. Amanda exhausted resources for housing assistance.

As a single mother to Aliyah, 15 years-old, Weslee, 11 years-old, and Addison, 6 years-old, she found herself and her children needing to move in with her parents and sister six years ago. Her sister, Elisabeth is confined to a wheelchair. It is a very cramped living space with the children sharing the family room to sleep in at night.

Amanda’s determination to move through a series of low points in her life including an abusive relationship that she ended, frequent moves, evictions, and credit challenges, fueled her desire to bring positive, long-lasting solutions to her situation. She worked on her credit, went back to school to earn her degree and found a better job. Amanda was laying the foundation that would assist her in receiving approval to be our family partner as a HIP.

This year her mother suggested that she apply to St. Lucie Habitat’s homeownership program. Through the application process, Amanda did not give up and did not lose her faith that something good was going to happen. For others that may be applying, she encourages them to stay positive and keep trying even if it doesn’t work out the first time.

When asked how owning her own home will impact her family, she says it will offer her family stability, make her children feel better and realize hope for the future and that it will set them up for success in life. Home to her means, “sharing home with my children, having peace of mind, a sense of permanency and making it our own, having space and privacy.”

Her family is eager and excited about performing their 300 sweat equity hours. Even after their home is complete, she still wants to volunteer at other Habitat build sites.

Amanda is looking forward to moving into her new home, having neighbors of her own, making new friends, and riding bikes with her children.



Amanda is thankful to the board of directors, sponsors, and St. Lucie Habitat’s team for this opportunity. She feels her family has been blessed more than they’ll ever know.

Anyone with questions is encouraged to call DonnaLea at 772-464-1117, ext. 104 or email DonnaLea@StLucieHabitat.org.



Our Volunteers Rock!

It was a beautiful day to have volunteers, Homeowner-in-Process Partners and staff gather for a service project at a St. Lucie Habitat home build site in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day and his vision for creating the Beloved Community. With each roller brush of paint application, everyone could see their work transform the outside of the home into an inviting color that will soon welcome home a new Habitat family.

A big shout out to the awesome volunteer team from Universal Engineering who happily ‘nailed it’ during their time working on the Hagan family’s Habitat home build. Thank you Universal Engineering Sciences for all you do to support St. Lucie Habitat and the families we serve.

Construction Volunteer

When planning our St. Lucie Habitat specialty builds, we need a few volunteers to help us with that particular build, such as the Women Build or on a construction site. Can you lend a hand?

Click here to learn more!

Donate today to help build a safe,

decent home for the Hagan family!