Through a long-time partnership with the City of Cape Coral, Habitat for Humanity of Lee and Hendry Counties facilitated the process of distributing up to $10,000 for rent and mortgage assistance to 193 qualifying Cape Coral families. Pictured is Daniela Rambhajan, Housing Finance Coordinator at Habitat for Humanity of Lee and Hendry Counties. Photo courtesy of Habitat

Nearly $900,000 in Coronavirus Relief Funding has been distributed to 193 families to help with rental and mortgage payments.

The relief funding is intended to keep local families sheltered and, as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security —- or CARES —- Act, the city of Cape Coral initially received a distribution of $596,829 to provide rent and mortgage assistance to households that have been financially destabilized as a result of COVID-19.

Through a long-time partnership with the City of Cape Coral, Habitat for Humanity of Lee and Hendry Counties facilitated the process of distributing up to $10,000 for rent and mortgage assistance to qualifying Cape Coral families. Qualified families include those whose financial stability was impacted as a result of job loss or under employment related to the coronavirus pandemic.

“The Habitat mission is focused on strengthening our local community by creating access to affordable homeownership,” said Habitat Lee and Hendry CEO, Becky Lucas in a prepared statement issued today. “Doing our part to prevent COVID-impacted families from losing their homes felt like a meaningful way to expand upon the work we’re already doing.”

Since taking the lead on this initiative in September, Habitat employees have worked to help disburse funds to eligible Cape Coral residents. Over the two-week application period, however, the organization accepted and began processing more applications than the original $596,829 would be able to cover. The City of Cape Coral and Habitat for Humanity then were approved to receive an additional $357,944 in CRF to help serve each of the eligible applicants, officials said.

“When I saw the original announcement, I thought it was too good to be true,” said Hasada Palacios, a Cape Coral resident who applied on the second day of the application period. Then, after receiving the funds, “it was absolutely a miracle and it meant everything to me. It meant keeping my home.”

Overall, the program delivered a total of $895,000 for rent and mortgage assistanceto 193 Cape Coral families impacted by COVID-19.

As of Dec. 15, 2020, all applications were processed and the last of these critically needed funds had officially been disbursed.

About Habitat for Humanity of Lee and Hendry Counties

Driven by their vision for a world where everyone has a decent place to live, Habitat for Humanity of Lee and Hendry Counties partners with local families in need of decent and affordable homes. Since 1982, more than 1,649 families have purchased Habitat homes in Lee and Hendry Counties. Habitat Homeowners help build their own homes alongside volunteers, they contribute towards closing costs, and they pay an affordable mortgage set at no more than 30% of their monthly income. Through volunteering and providing financial or material donations, everyone can help Lee and Hendry County families achieve strength, stability and independence. Through shelter, we empower. For more information, visit www.Habitat4Humanity.org.