Habitat For Humanity of Lee and Hendry Counties

Habitat For Humanity of Lee and Hendry Counties is helping local residents achieve the much-deserved security of being homeowners. We were thrilled to have Becky Lucas (Chief Executive Officer) and Cece Schepp (Communications Director) on the podcast to tell us all about this wonderful organization.

In fact, local shell artist Ginny Dickinson, who we had on Podcast #44 is on the board of directors and sang Habitat’s praises so we couldn’t wait to have Becky and Cece on.

An affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International, the local organization was created by a group called Lee County Mission Board, which broke ground on its first home in Harlem Heights on February 23, 1980. By 2004 Habitat had built 500 homes and as of July 2020 they have built 1750!

Habitat also offers other resources such as house counseling to help people navigate through the complicated process of purchasing a home and general support.

Harlem Heights is a neighborhood that is located approximately 10 miles from Sanibel Island. Gladiolus fields were originally located here and migrant workers would pick the flowers for export. Heights has been an economically depressed area ever since.

In 2016, twenty acres in Harlem Heights were purchased by Habitat for Humanity of Lee and Hendry Counties. Starting in 2022, it will be the site of a lakefront development called “Heritage Heights” which will eventually have 150 family and multi-family homes!

If you have gently used items or building materials you can donate them to the Habitat South Fort Myers ReStore or you can shop for furniture, housewares, or building materials! The South Fort Myers ReStore is located about 10 miles from Sanibel Island. Proceeds benefit Habitat for Humanity of Lee and Hendry Counties.