Earlier this month on World Habitat Day (Oct. 5), nearly 20 business and community leaders joined us to celebrate the ribbon-cutting ceremony at Butler’s Preserve – a Habitat Greater Orlando community.
World Habitat Day is a global holiday declared by the United Nations when Habitat for Humanity affiliates around the world raise awareness about the basic right for adequate housing.

During the event, Habitat Greater Orlando held a tour of the newly completed model home, as well as the community itself, which at completion, will feature 51 single-family homes and four duplex units. Butler’s Preserve – located in the Malibu Groves community in west Orlando – is named after Mable Butler, a longtime affordable housing advocate and former District 6 Orange County Commissioner.

The issue of affordable housing in Central Florida is not new, and in fact is very relevant today. According to a 2015 Out of Reach report by the National Low Income Housing Coalition, an individual making minimum wage would need to work 97 hours a week just to afford a two-bedroom apartment in the state of Florida at fair market value.

“Celebrating the Butler’s Preserve model home opening is just one way we can help shed light on the conversation about housing,” said Catherine Steck McManus, president and CEO of Habitat for Humanity of Greater Orlando. “Through the support of our community, we are dedicated to making homeownership a reality for low-income residents.”

The construction of the model home at Butler’s Preserve was sponsored by Correct Craft.