Habitat for Humanity of Lee and Hendry Counties

Habitat for Humanity of Lee Counties, an affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International, was created by a group called Lee County Mission Board, which broke ground on its first home in Harlem Heights with Millard Fuller in attendance on February 23, 1980. The group was officially chartered as an affiliate of Habitat for Humanity in 1982. In 1993, the first retail outlet was opened for the sale of donated household items to Habitat families and the general public. By 1995, Habitat for Humanity of Lee County celebrated its 100^th home built and sold to local families. In 1999, the affiliate made the decision to expand into Hendry county, closing on its first Hendry County home in 2001.

By 2004, Habitat for Humanity of Lee and Hendry Counties had built over 500 homes. In 2006, Habitat’s Board addressed a pressing need by building 60 Senior Rental units in North Fort Myers. The first Women Build home was constructed in 2010, the same year Kitty Green became Habitat Lee and Hendry’s second CEO in its history.

In 2014, Habitat for Humanity of Lee and Hendry Counties amplified its shift in focus from scattered lots to neighborhood building with the start of Red Hibiscus, a 28-home Habitat community in Bonita Springs. A year later, FineMark Village broke ground in Fort Myers, and a year after that, 20 acres was purchased in Harlem Heights. That property is being developed into a lakefront neighborhood of 150 single and multi-family homes called Heritage Heights. With Habitat for Humanity’s “Quality of Life Framework” in mind from inception, Heritage Heights will build homes in partnership with hard-working families, the first of whom will move into the neighborhood by early 2021.

In July 2019, Becky Lucas assumed her role as Habitat Lee and Hendry’s third CEO in its history. Over a span of 19 years, Becky has served Habitat for Humanity in various roles including volunteer, director of construction, executive director and her most recent role as vice president of community outreach.

By July 2020, Habitat for Humanity of Lee and Hendry Counties had broken ground on its 1750^th home, opened its 4^th ReStore, completed its 6^th Global Village service trip abroad, became a HUD certified housing counseling agency, and built a Disaster Recovery Program in response to Hurricane Irma.

To learn more, please visit their website here.

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