$25 million gift from Schoen family for affordable housing
Details of the gift were made public at a home dedication ceremony on Saturday, February 8, at Habitat’s recently completed community, Songbird at Whippoorwill, in Naples.
It is not the first gift from the Schoen family, who are longtime supporters of the nonprofit, but it is by far the largest, said Lisa Lefkow, Habitat for Humanity of Collier County’s CEO.
“They came to a conclusion, and that conclusion was to make not just a gift that would impact the lives of a couple families a year or a hundred families at a time, but a transformational gift, a gift that will impact the lives of the next thousand families,” Lefkow said.
Collier County is facing an unprecedented shortage of affordable housing, making homeownership out of reach for many hardworking families, wrote Jessica Grybek, Habitat’s communications director. Further, today’s economic pressure and ever-increasing costs of land, infrastructure, and building materials result in a growing gap between what is affordable and Habitat’s costs, Grybek added.
“The Schoen Foundation’s commitment to Habitat for Humanity of Collier County has been instrumental in driving positive change within our community over the past two decades of partnership, and this momentous gift continues their inspirational legacy of philanthropy,” Grybek wrote.
The funding will be used for almost all aspects of affordable housing, including construction, site preparation, land purchase, infrastructure costs, and building materials.
Karen Schoen Sutton of the family’s Foundation was aware of the need and the unique position she was in to help make a sizable difference.
“Luke 12:48, to whom much is given much will be required,” said Schoen Sutton as homes were blessed by area clergy.
“That is really what my parents have lived and have helped us and my children really form who we are,” said Schoen Sutton.
The Schoen Foundation was created following the passing of her father in 2023. All of his wealth will need to be distributed within 15 years, she said.
The need for housing in Collier County continues to mount.
“Prices are just outpacing the everyday person,” said Schoen Sutton.
The Collier County Community Foundation estimates the median home price is more than $700,000 and more than 11 percent of people experienced food insecurity in 2023 in Collier County with that percentage likely increasing significantly to date.
The Schoen family has long supported Habitat for Humanity of Collier County because of the nonprofit’s vision, planning and execution, said Schoen Sutton.
“To give you an idea of the need in the community, last year we received about 24 inquiries to our program for every home that we were able to fund, build, and sell,” said Grybek.
Homeownership through Habitat for Humanity is a step-by-step process. The first three steps are related to the application process.
“Families are selected as partners based on three core areas: need, ability to repay, and willingness to partner,” said Grybek.
Then, after a basic assessment, prospective participants complete an application with financial and other information similar to a conventional lender, she said.
Income verification, credit approval, and criminal background checks are included.
Flo Noel received a Habitat home in 2022 with a previous gift from the Schoen family. But she almost missed the opportunity due to challenges in completing the application with her work schedule.
“It felt impossible,” she said. “Someone called to check in and I felt like this was a sign from God. I have to do this,” said Noel.
She since changed jobs and now works in fundraising with the Collier County Community Foundation, saying that she is hoping she, too, will acquire wealth and be able to give back.
After meeting the basic requirements, Habitat for Humanity visits the applicant’s current home. Noel and her two daughters, now nine and 15 years old, lived in a home with three families, she described.
“I was living in a bedroom with my two daughters all in one bed,” said Noel.
Then, a committee with Habitat for Humanity reviews applicant details and makes recommendations, which is followed by the board of directors meeting with applicants.
The applicant will spend hours on the job site helping to build homes. They also attend pre-purchase education courses to prepare them for homeownership and responsibilities they likely have not experienced as renters.
The new homeowners secure a mortgage with zero interest tailored to their financial ability. They make a downpayment and pay their first year’s insurance premium.
When a neighborhood is complete and all homes have been purchased, Habitat hands management of the neighborhood over to its homeowners, who vote in an HOA board from the residents of the community and who guide the needs of the subdivision with the assistance of a professional HOA management company, said Grybek.