Orange County’s Surplus Lots Program Helps Family Build Stability
When Chelethia "Chelly" Helmes moved into her first apartment in 2002, rent was $500 a month. By 2022, that number had tripled, and she was struggling to keep up. Living paycheck to paycheck, she fell deeper into credit card debt while working hard to provide for her daughter. Unfortunately, the dream of owning a home seemed impossible.
Then, everything changed.
Three years ago, Chelly and her family purchased a home made possible through Orange County's Affordable Housing Trust Fund and Habitat for Humanity Greater Orlando & Osceola County. Today, she no longer worries about rent increases or being forced to move.
"This sense of security means everything to me," she said. "Every dollar I spend now - whether it's for new blinds or patio furniture - is an investment in myself. "It means so much to have a stable house to call my own."
Chelly's story is one of many made possible through Orange County's Surplus Lots Program, which donates County-owned land suitable for housing development to nonprofit partners through a competitive bidding process. So far, 12 single-family homes have been completed, with 20 more under construction, transforming once-vacant parcels into vibrant homes and thriving neighborhoods.
This program helps nonprofits like Habitat Orlando & Osceola continue its mission to build affordable homes for Central Florida families.
"Land is a critical need for Habitat," said Catherine Steck McManus, the organization's president and CEO. "We're grateful to the County for helping us build affordable homes and transform communities. Donating land to Habitat ensures it stays locally owned and gives families a stable foundation for health, opportunity and progress."
The Surplus Lots program is part of Orange County's Housing for All strategy, which focuses on expanding affordable housing and helping families achieve homeownership. The Board of County Commissioners initially committed $160 million to the Affordable Housing Trust Fund for its first 10 years, and in November 2024, voters approved a charter amendment to make it permanent.
Since its creation in 2020, the County has allocated $58 million to more than a dozen projects, supporting nearly 2,400 affordable units and another $6.5 million toward preserving existing homes. In October 2025, the Board approved an additional $58.5 million investment over the next three years - expected to help create or preserve 3,570 affordable units.
Chelly remains grateful to both the County and Habitat Orlando & Osceola, which also provided financial literacy classes to help her reduce debt and prepare for homeownership.
"I'm able to show my daughter what it means to be a homeowner and to take responsibility," she said. "Hopefully, when I'm gone, she can have this house for herself."
Where Do the County’s Surplus Lots Come From?
Most surplus lots donated to nonprofits for affordable housing originate from escheated tax deeds - properties that revert to Orange County after no private party purchases them at a tax deed sale. Once received, Real Estate Management evaluates each parcel to determine if it is suitable for affordable housing. If so, the property is forwarded to the Housing and Community Development Division and added to its inventory for potential donation to qualified nonprofit developers.
In some cases, private property owners also choose to donate or sell land to the County. Real Estate Management evaluates these parcels to determine whether they can support affordable housing before recommending next steps.
To learn more about the Housing for All initiative, visit Viviendas para Todos.
This is the fourth story in an ongoing series about how the County’s Affordable Housing Trust Fund is transforming local lives.