Home is where your family is: New beginnings with Habitat for Humanity

Learn more about the firm’s 14th home build with Habitat for Humanity – and meet the benefitting family.

Stephanie Smith, a single mom and Communications Teletype Technician for the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office, “couldn’t believe” that homeownership through a program like Habitat for Humanity was even a possibility for her.

“Being chosen is a blessing sent just when we needed it most,” Stephanie said.

Stephanie and her 17-year-old son Thomas are among the newest residents of The Greenway – a neighborhood of 12 single-family affordable homes built by Habitat for Humanity of Pinellas and West Pasco Counties. They received the keys to their new home on February 29 after several months and hundreds of hours of construction completed by Habitat staff, Raymond James volunteers, and Stephanie herself. 

Habitat for Humanity and Raymond James

For more than 20 years, Raymond James has partnered with Habitat for Humanity chapters across the country to help make homeownership dreams come true. As part of this commitment, the firm has sponsored 14 full home builds for Habitat for Humanity of Pinellas & West Pasco Counties. 

Habitat empowers individuals and families to build and buy their own homes with the help of people in the community. Homes are sold at cost and financed with zero-interest loans to families who may not qualify for a traditional mortgage. The program prepares homeowner partners with educational courses on topics like budgeting and home maintenance.

With two adult children living independently and one son, Thomas, at home, Stephanie is most excited to have a place for her entire family to come together.

We love spending time together as a family,” she said. “We are very close-knit and love to do anything as long as we are together.” 

The Smith family home build

More than 80 Raymond James volunteers collectively spent nearly 500 collective hours helping to build the Smith family’s home. Volunteers worked on the home from the ground up, installing shelving, cabinets, doors, windows and insulation, as well as painting, sodding, landscaping and more.

Raymond James is proud to have donated over 8,000 volunteer hours over the course of our Habitat partnership, helping dozens of families become homeowners. Additionally, Raymond James Bank has supported Habitat over the last decade through volunteerism and loan purchasing. In 2023 alone, the bank purchased 40 Habitat loans, totaling more than $12 million, and provided them at 0% interest, saving families over $25 million over the life of the loans.

“Volunteering is far and away the most rewarding part of my involvement,” Raymond James Bank Chief Financial Officer and Habitat Board Member Ken Ginel said. “I love being able to put in sweat equity right alongside the homeowners.”

The home dedication

On February 29, 2024, after completing homebuyer education courses and hundreds of hours on her home and surrounding homes in the neighborhood, Stephanie Smith gathered with her friends, family, Raymond James associates, Habitat staff and Pinellas County community members to celebrate a new beginning for her family. Raymond James Head of PCG Supervision and Habitat Board Member Chris Majeski presented the keys to the home.

“Every time you use these keys, it’s so important to know that you’re not alone,” Majeski said. “You will always have people rooting for you. You will always have people in your corner.”

As of 2024, Habitat for Humanity of Pinellas and West Pasco Counties has built more than 870 homes for deserving families like the Smiths. Learn more at habitatpwp.org. 

Raymond James Cares

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