Habitat for Humanity Aims to Relieve Housing Pressure for Veterans
ST. AUGUSTINE, Florida (July 10, 2026) – As America celebrates 250 years of independence, Habitat for Humanity of St. Johns County is working to help the Veterans who served and protected find affordable pathways to homeownership. St. Johns County sits in one of Florida’s most military-dense regions, with over 23,500 Veterans calling it home. And now, Habitat St. Johns is inviting former service members to explore Habitat St. Johns housing programs.
“Our country’s Veterans have made great sacrifices for our country and deserve our help,” says Malinda Everson, Executive Director of Habitat for Humanity of St. Johns County. “We’re working to ease the financial strain Veterans are experiencing locally. Homes currently available in our Volusia Woods neighborhood are under $300,000, which is exponentially more affordable than the average home in St. Johns County. Our neighborhoods are also incredibly community-focused. By volunteering on our build sites alongside their future neighbors, homeowners form a tight bond with one another.”
According to recent data from the Housing Assistance Council, roughly 26.8% of Florida Veterans pay too much for housing. And with the median household income for Florida Veterans sitting at just under $80,000, St. Johns County’s median house price of over $500,000 just doesn’t make fiscal sense. Habitat for Humanity St. Johns’ homes in its newest neighborhood of Volusia Woods are between $248,000 and $278,000. Single homeowners can earn up to $91,320 a year, while a family of four can earn up to $130,440 and qualify for a Habitat home. Program participants enter homeownership with a solid foundation in knowledge, with the nonprofit requiring owners to take provided classes in financial and mortgage literacy, homeownership 101, and to use numerous resources to ensure a successful purchase.
Habitat for Humanity has long recognized the unique housing needs of Veterans. Many local chapters began increasing their grassroots efforts in the late 2000s, as many service members who fought in Iraq and Afghanistan returned to a challenging economy and rising housing costs. The international nonprofit formalized its Veteran programming by launching Veterans Build in 2013, which focuses on providing stable and affordable housing options, building community through volunteering, and offering financial education programs. Habitat for Humanity of St. Johns County is hosting its annual Veterans Build event Nov. 13-14, 2026, where Veterans can volunteer to build homes for future homeowners.
