ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. — Many people on the First Coast are hoping the new year brings changes to the housing market, but right now, the struggle to find affordable housing persists.
In St. Johns County, an organization is changing the landscape to add more affordable homes in 2024. Habitat for Humanity of St. Augustine/St. Johns County is planning to more than double the number of homes they will build this year. The organization says it's because of the need and it means more people could soon have stories similar to Makeshia Hayes.
"This is my living room,” said Hayes while showing First Coast News her new home. “It's pretty spacious."
Hayes lives and works in St. Augustine, but when she wanted to move her family out of their apartment last year, finding something affordable wasn't easy.
"I kind of decided since I got five kids, [I had] to look for somewhere that's affordable and that we'll appreciate [it] more and be more comfortable,” Hayes said.
The median listing price for a home in St. Augustine is about $650,000, according to realtor.com. Habitat for Humanity of St. Augustine/ St. Johns County is working to combat the high prices. Their new Canopy Oaks neighborhood has 18 affordable homes, according to Executive Director Malinda Everson. 36 more affordable homes will be built at another new neighborhood currently under construction, Volusia Woods.
"There's a lot of people that work in this community, including our first responders, that live in other counties,” Everson said. “They commute to our county and that clogs our roads and it takes time away from their families."
Everson says they usually build six homes per year. In 2024, they'll build 15.
"Now, my kids can say they got a yard to play in,” said Hayes. “They can be kids. They can be loud."
For Hayes's family, the new home she helped build is a fresh start after a trying year. Hayes's son was born with a heart condition and this summer, she saved his life.
"I had to do CPR on him,” Hayes said. “I didn't [know] what I was doing, but I just thank God, God was with me that day. I just saved my son. I'm like his hero. So, when I look at him, it's like he's a blessing."
Everson says the new affordable housing is changing her children’s lives.
"They safe now,” Hayes said. “They got all this room and space, they can be kids."
Learn more about Habitat for Humanity of St. Augustine/St. Johns County here.