Join Habitat for Humanity of Lake-Sumter in creating a Lake-Sumter where everyone has a safe place to call home. Receive tax benefits and make the most of your contribution by donating non-cash assets.

Uniform Property Tax Assessment

SB556 and HB1425 is newly proposed legislation that will assist property appraisers in making uniform determinations for affordable housing properties. Currently, affordable homes with resale restrictions are often assessed at market value, even though deed restrictions limit their resale values. This results in inflated property tax bills, making homeownership less affordable for low-income families.

Support SB 556, sponsored by Tom Wright, and HB 1425, sponsored by Anne Gerwig, to support uniform property tax assessment for affordable housing in Florida!

CCTCP

The Community Contribution Tax Credit Program (CCTCP) is a state-wide initiative that encourages Florida businesses to invest in community development and housing projects for low-income persons.

As housing experts, Habitat for Humanity affiliates have been instrumental in utilizing CCTCP to increase affordable housing production across Florida.

CCTCP has enabled Habitat Lake-Sumter to double housing production over the past 5 years, playing a key role in connecting local businesses with the mission of building safe, affordable housing in our community.

Through dedicated advocacy efforts, The Live Local Act included an increase in the Community Contribution Tax Credit Program from $14.5M to $25M, showing a strong investment in this program.

To learn how your business could benefit from the Community Contribution Tax Credit Program, contact form

Yes, in God’s Backyard (YIGBY)

Across Florida, many faith-based organizations own underused land that could be part of the solution to our affordable housing crisis. But outdated zoning laws often make it difficult or even impossible to build housing on these sites, forcing congregations and nonprofit partners to navigate costly, slow, and uncertain rezoning processes.

In 2025, the Florida Legislature passed Senate Bill 1730-into law-also known as Y.I.G.B.Y.: Yes in God’s Back Yard. Y.I.G.B.Y. gives cities and counties the ability to approve affordable housing on eligible land owned by religious institutions, even if that land isn’t currently zoned for residential use.

Habitat Lake-Sumter has decades of experience working alongside faith communities to turn underused land into vibrant, affordable neighborhoods. With Y.I.G.B.Y., your congregation’s property can directly address the housing crisis -while keeping your mission at the heart of the project.

If your church owns land and has a heart for housing, we can help turn your vision into reality.

SHIP

State Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP) is facilitated at the county level. Funds are awarded to income-eligible homebuyers to assist with the purchase of a new or existing home. Funding may be used for down payment, closing costs, principal buy-down and repairs as needed. SHIP is essential in Habitat’s ability to keep homes affordable for future Habitat homeowners.

SHOP

The Self-Help Homeownership Opportunity (SHOP) is the only U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) grant program that provides funding exclusively for homeownership projects serving low-income families. Similar to the Habitat model, SHOP requires “sweat equity” or volunteer investment from future homeowners in building their own homes and those of their neighbors. Habitat affiliates use SHOP funds to purchase land and develop infrastructure, helping to underwrite the cost of construction and making homeownership accessible.

CDBG/HOME

Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and The HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME) funds are used by local communities to partner with Habitat on building quality homes. Habitat Lake-Sumter utilizes CDGB/HOME funds to develop neighborhoods.

United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)

USDA 502 direct is a crucial financing package that bridges the gap to affordable homeownership to cost-burdened households. Compared to a third-party mortgage, USDA 502 Direct ensures lower monthly payments and lower than market-rate interests for very-low- and low-income households. USDA 502 direct is instrumental in keeping mortgages for Habitat partner families affordable.

USDA Housing Preservation Grant (HPG) is a federal grant that provides funds to nonprofits to help low-income rural homeowners repair and rehabilitate homes, ensuring affordable rural housing by assisting with major repairs that increase the health and safety of the home. Annually, Habitat Lake-Sumter applies for HPG funds to provide critical home repairs for families in our rural service area. Preserving the affordable housing stock and ensuring families can remain in their home safely.

Through advocacy, we build relationships with lawmakers and create new opportunities for affordable homeownership in Lake and Sumter Counties.

We’re nonpartisan, so we don’t support candidates – we only support policies that make homeownership more equitable and accessible for everyone in our community.

Use your voice to support affordable housing in our community. Whether you’re sharing our mission with a friend or speaking up for local housing needs, you can help build momentum for lasting change.

Let your legislators know that you care about affordable housing in your community and ask them to support the policies above.