Habitat for Humanity Tampa Bay Gulfside

Since 1985, Habitat for Humanity Tampa Bay Gulfside has partnered with over 900 local families to build safe and affordable homes in our region. Habitat TBG is a locally run affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International, a global nonprofit housing organization operated on Christian principles that seeks to put God’s love into action by building homes, communities, and hope.

Habitat for Humanity Tampa Bay Gulfside (Habitat TBG) builds and sells affordable homes to homeowner partners in Pinellas, West Pasco, and Hernando counties. Homeowner candidates earn 30 to 80 percent of the Area Median Income (AMI) and are hard-working individuals who desire to own a home but do not qualify for a traditional mortgage. Most are the first in their family ever to own a home, thus often breaking generational poverty cycles. Here’s why it works: • 0% interest mortgages, keeping monthly payments affordable. • $0 down payments and no Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI), reducing financial barriers. • Homeowners never pay more than 30% of their household income on housing. • Habitat Homeownership Education: A 38-course homebuyer education curriculum covering financial literacy, home maintenance, and community engagement. • “Sweat equity” requirement: Homebuyers complete 350–450 volunteer hours, working on their own and others’ homes. The program is predicated on the principle of a hand-up and not a handout. Homeowners purchase their home from Habitat and earn a 0% interest mortgage. Removing interest from the mortgage not only keeps monthly payments affordable, but it also means that each homeowner is building equity in their home from their first payment on. This allows homeowners to save for the future while having the stability of an affordable monthly payment. It also increases the supply of affordable housing units within the community and ensures homeowners are never cost-burdened.