The newly rehabbed home is in Lakewood Estates.

ST. PETERSBURG – As part of USAmeriBank’s long-term partnership with Habitat for Humanity of Pinellas County, Carol Kennedy, senior vice president, retail market manager of USAmeriBank, presented a local family with the keys to their new home this month.

Kennedy presented the keys of a newly rehabbed home, in the Lakewood Estates neighborhood, to Natasha Walker, a YMCA personal trainer who will share the home with her two children.

USAmeriBank became a partner of Habitat for Humanity of Pinellas County in 2014, and this year renewed its partnership to support home loans. Since the partnership began, USAmeriBank has provided mortgages to 10 homeowners.

Habitat for Humanity of Pinellas County’s mission to help people locally matches USAmeriBank’s commitment to helping members of the community achieve their dream of home ownership.

“People who move into Habitat homes are very involved in the process, and invest considerable sweat equity so they can become homeowners,” Kennedy said. “We know that home ownership makes a difference in the community, and we are proud to help the dream of home ownership come true for these families.”

Kennedy and a number of other USAmeriBank employees have volunteered to help build homes with Habitat for Humanity, and Kennedy is also active in Hammers and Heels, a women’s leadership circle that works to strengthen Habitat’s programs by making annual contributions.

Habitat for Humanity of Pinellas County has constructed 363 homes for struggling, low-income families in Pinellas County, using locally raised funds since 1985. Volunteers and the future homeowners construct the homes, which are sold at no profit and financed with a zero-interest loan. Habitat Pinellas homeowner candidates earn 30 to 80 percent of area median income. For Pinellas County, that translates to as little as $27,000 a year for a family of four. Candidates must also demonstrate need for adequate shelter; ability to pay back a zero-interest loan and willingness to partner with Habitat Pinellas to invest 250 to 350 sweat equity hours. Mortgage monies are used to build even more homes, making each donation to Habitat a perpetual legacy to the community. Additionally, Habitat Pinellas raises funds for its home building program through its ReStore, a home improvement store and donation center where donated household and building items are sold to the public.

USAmeriBank is an independent, non-public bank based in Clearwater, Fla. that has established itself as an outstanding middle-market financial institution. The bank serves the needs of individuals and businesses in the Tampa Bay area in Florida, and in the Birmingham, Montgomery and Tallapoosa areas in Alabama, by providing a high-level of personalized service and attention to a targeted customer base. USAmeriBank’s parent company is USAmeriBancorp, Inc.

For information about USAmeribank, go to USAmeriBank.com. For information about Habitat for Humanity of Pinellas County, contact (727) 536-4755 or go to HabitatPinellas.org.

Habitat for Humanity | Habitat Pinellas | USAmeriBank | St Pete | TB Reporter

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