For LaTonya Riley, the path to homeownership was anything but easy.<\/p>\n
A lifelong Apopka resident and devoted mother, Riley was used to balancing work and family life. But in 2017, everything changed when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. What followed were years of surgeries, hospital stays and emotional strain \u2014 not just for her, but for her children.<\/p>\n
\u201cSome days I didn\u2019t want to get up, but I still had to be a mom,\u201d she said. \u201cI had to make sure my son got up for school and did his homework. Watching them see me go through it \u2014 it was hard for them too.\u201d<\/p>\n
Like many families across Florida, Riley also faced the challenge of finding an affordable place to live. More than one in three households in the state are considered cost-burdened, spending over 30 percent of their income on housing.<\/p>\n
Recognizing this growing need, Orange County has invested more than $58 million in affordable housing since 2020, including support for its Surplus Lots Program.<\/p>\n
The program transforms County-owned vacant land into opportunities for homeownership. By donating surplus residential lots to qualified nonprofit partners like Habitat for Humanity<\/a>, Orange County helps reduce development costs and expand access to safe, affordable housing.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re in a housing crisis across the country, especially in fast-growing areas like Orange County,\u201d said Penny Seater, CEO of Habitat for Humanity Seminole-Apopka<\/a>. \u201cWhen government, nonprofits and the community work together, we can make a real difference.\u201d<\/p>\n Riley applied and was accepted into Habitat for Humanity\u2019s Homebuyer Program in 2023. Through dedication, perseverance and completing required \u201csweat equity\u201d hours, she worked toward a goal that once felt out of reach.<\/p>\n \u201cYou have to stay motivated,\u201d she asserted. \u201cIf you know what you want, you just have to keep going and never give up.\u201d<\/p>\n That determination paid off the day she received the keys to her new home.<\/p>\n \u201cI was nervous, but I was filled with so much joy,\u201d she said. \u201cIt was a great feeling.\u201d<\/p>\n Beyond providing shelter, the impact of homeownership reaches far deeper.<\/p>\n \u201cIt changes the trajectory of an entire family,\u201d said Seater. \u201cIt means stability, better health and better outcomes for children.\u201d<\/p>\n