ORLANDO, Fla. — Habitat for Humanity Greater Orlando & Osceola County has been awarded a $5,000 grant from State Farm to use toward building and supporting affordable housing in Central Florida.
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According to a news release, Florida residents now need to make $24.82 an hour to afford a two-bedroom rental at fair-market value, a recent National Low Income Housing Coalition reported.
Half of Orlando’s workforce makes below $17.59 an hour.
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Nine out of 10 of workers in essential occupations, such as ambulance drivers and teaching assistants, are unable to afford a one-bedroom rental, a news release said.
“There are a lot of reasons why our community is suffering from one of the worst housing shortages in the country,” said Catherine Steck McManus, president and CEO of Habitat Greater Orlando & Osceola County, “and we have to work collaboratively in ways we never have before if we are going to reach solutions.”
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“This grant embodies the spirit of what our company has been about for the last 100 years, about giving back and being a good neighbor,” said Jose Soto, a corporate responsibility analyst at State Farm. “We are excited to continue supporting Habitat for Humanity Greater Orlando & Osceola County efforts to help build affordable homes in our communities.”
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The organization builds and repairs homes, and strengthens communities.
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