What We Do

Since 2002, the Bonita Bay Nail Pounders and community residents have partnered with Habitat for Humanity of Lee and Hendry Counties to build and help fund the construction of 60 Habitat homes for local families in need of affordable homeownership.

As the demand for affordable housing continues to climb in Bonita Springs and throughout Southwest Florida, the efforts made by Bonita Bay residents will play a key role in mitigating the home affordability challenges, while providing a lasting hand-up the economic ladder for hardworking families.

Bonita Bay’s Habitat for Humanity team operates year-round, although most activity falls during the seasonal months from November through May. Our efforts are managed by a committee of volunteers and fall into two main categories: fundraising and building.

Bonita Bay Residents’ Sponsored home with construction near completion

Fundraising

Each year, we hold our “Let’s Raise the Roof” fundraising campaign, which is the lifeblood of our efforts. The more money we raise, the more roofs we raise. It is truly community-wide effort, comprising Captains for each of Bonita Bay’s 60 neighborhoods. These Captains are charged with outreach to their neighbors – not just to ask for donations, but to explain how our funds are used and why affordable housing is so important in Bonita Springs, where property values continue to escalate.

Through the hard work of these Captains and more than 800 generous donors, Bonita Bay Habitat for Humanity raised over $500,000 in 2020…enough to fund at least three new homes for construction during the 2020/21 season.

The 2021 campaign will start in February, emphasizing the importance “Give Where You Live” to our efforts. All funds we raise go to building affordable housing right here in the Bonita Springs area.

Be sure to look for campaign information in your mailbox, and keep checking back to this website for updated information.

For those who make their charitable gift decisions at year-end, CLICK HERE TO DONATE

Bonita Bay Residents Make the Difference!

There was a 20% increase in giving from Bonita Bay Residents from last year.
This year, there was an increase of 22% in the average gift size from Bonita Bay Residents.
There were 10 major donors (over $10,000) with 2 personal home sponsorships from Bonita Bay residents in the 2019/2020 fiscal year.

Building

Bonita Bay’s Nail Pounders are perhaps the best-known and most visible part of what we do. These volunteers provide 1,300+ hours of labor per home and are a huge factor in helping to keep our housing opportunities affordable. They do everything from raising exterior and interior walls to installing windows, doors, dry-wall and flooring – under the tutelage and direction of a Habitat supervisor. Many Nail Pounders have minimal home building skills when they volunteer. Part of the fun is learning by doing. It is also rewarding for those who like to give of themselves, not just their money.

If you can swing a hammer, paint a wall or push a broom, we need you to help keep pace with the demand for affordable housing.

To become a Nail Pounder, CLICK HERE

Meet the Homeowners

The homeowners of the Bonita Bay Residents sponsored home are Hector and Mirtha. They are a family of 5, with children ranging from 3 to 18 years old. Before partnering with Habitat, they were living in a very small 3-bedroom 1-bathroom duplex apartment and paying more than 30% of their income. When applying to Habitat’s Affordable Housing Program, Mirtha said, “an affordable mortgage will change our lives and it will provide new opportunities for my children.” Hector added, “we want a house where the entire family can fit comfortably.”

Through their partnership with Habitat and support from Bonita Bay and the Nail Pounders, Hector and Mirtha closed on their dream home in May 2020. They are grateful to have a safe, stable and affordable place to call home to raise their children.

See how families are selected, CLICK HERE

^{Hector and Mirtha at the closing of their home}