Christie Sowell holds the keys to her new home with Jack Palmorn, general manager of Fort Myers Coca-Cola Beverages Florida, during a dedication ceremony for Habitat for Humanity marking the first completed home of its new affordable housing development in Fort Myers. CHUCK BALLARO

Not long ago, Christie Sowell and her family lived in a two-bedroom apartment with a triple bunk bed to accommodate her children.

On Tuesday, the Sowell family celebrated being new homeowners during a dedication ceremony for Habitat for Humanity marking the first completed home of its new affordable housing development in Fort Myers.

And Sowell said she would be around to make sure to help the walls and doors go up on the other homes in this neighborhood.

Sowell, with the help of Coca-Cola Beverages Florida and countless other volunteers, helped build a 1,300-square-foot, four-bedroom home, for which she was grateful.

“It’s been a long process. A lot of sweat and early Saturday mornings coming out here and making it work. It definitely paid off,” Sowell said.

Christie Sowell thanks those who helped build her home during a dedication ceremony for Habitat for Humanity marking the first completed home of its new affordable housing development in Fort Myers. CHUCK BALLARO

Sowell went above and beyond to make sure she put in the 300 hours of sweat equity, even donating extra hours to other homeowners behind on their commitment.

“Even when my hours were complete, I would come and do painting and chill with the Coca-Cola family and keep my presence around here,” Sowell said. “There are quite a few homes that need to be built. Walls will be raised outside my doors. Why not come out and help?”

The new HOA community is located between McCormick Street and Prospect Avenue on six acres. The community will feature 29 single-family homes when it’s completed within the next two years.

The need for affordable housing in Southwest Florida has always been an issue, and it was only made worse by Hurricane Ian. Many families have come through the doors at Habitat looking for help in finding an affordable home.

Many families don’t qualify for a home for a variety of reasons, but they do get help in being put on a path to ownership in other ways.

Becky Lucas, CEO for Habitat for Humanity for Lee and Hendry Counties, said it’s exciting to start a new neighborhood and give people the opportunity to fulfill the American dream of owning their own home.

“We purchased this land 10 years ago, so this is a long time coming. This is a desirable area for Habitat families. We put in the infrastructure, the roads, and it was supposed to start in January,” Lucas said. “Because of the hurricane, it was postponed.”

Jack Palmorn, general manager of Fort Myers Coca-Cola Beverages Florida, said his team jumped right in, adding he treated it at first as a competition before learning what it was really about.

“My plan was to hurry up and paint this house to show the power of Coke Florida. I met the power of love,” Palmorn said. “When you see all these people wanting to participate. It wasn’t about what company was dominant. It was what you needed and we got it. That was a beautiful thing.”

Since 1982, Habitat has partnered with nearly 1,800 families to help them achieve their dream of affordable homeownership.

Alongside volunteers, Habitat homeowners help build their own homes by completing more than 300 hours of sweat equity, in addition to attending financial education classes, paying $2,000 in closing costs and committing to pay a zero-interest mortgage set at no more than 30 percent of their monthly income.