Construction Begins on First of Two Habitat for Humanity Homes Funded by Tampa Honda / Williams Automotive Group
Roof Trusses to be raised for political refugee family in Citrus Park on March 7th
TAMPA, FL – A decade-long intercontinental journey toward self-reliance and stability has brought a North Korean family to a construction site near Citrus Park where their permanent home will be built by Habitat for Humanity of Hillsborough County in partnership with Tampa Honda, a Williams Automotive Group member dealership. Construction on the home for the Jeon-Kim family will begin on Tuesday, March 7, 2017. After a brief build site opening ceremony, homeowner candidates Gyeong Hak Jeon and Ok Ban Kim will work alongside Tampa Honda/Williams Automotive Group’s staff volunteers to raise the roof trusses on their home.
Tampa Honda/Williams Automotive Group is providing construction funding for the Jeon-Kim home, the first of two Habitat Hillsborough homes the Tampa-based business will sponsor. In addition to providing funding, Tampa Honda/Williams Automotive Group staff members will invest hundreds of hours volunteering during all phases of the home’s construction. Company executives will attend the March 7th ceremony to officially open the build site to volunteers and meet the family they are helping.
The Jeon-Kim family’s path to homeownership has been more of a journey than the average Habitat family. Political refugees from North Korea, the family has endured perilous times as they made their escape to asylum in America. “Home means belonging to the U.S.,” said Jeon, who is now a naturalized U.S. citizen and earns a modest income working at a Tampa dental lab. Having the opportunity to purchase an affordable Habitat home will help ease the family’s financial burden and provide an opportunity they’ve never had – ownership and control of their own destiny.
“We are committed to improving the lives of people in Hillsborough County like the Jeon-Kim family who need affordable shelter,” said Tina Swain, CEO of Habitat for Humanity of Hillsborough County. “The Habitat for Humanity program helps our homeowners build strength, stability and self-reliance. We observe the acute housing need in the community. We see the rent increases far outpacing wages. We listen to the stories of struggling families and we hear community leaders calling for affordable housing development. Together with community volunteers and corporate donors like Williams Automotive Group, we will continue to help stabilize limited income families in Hillsborough County by offering affordable homeownership opportunities.”
Tampa Honda/Williams Automotive Group is committed to serving the local community through its “Active Community Involvement” program that sends out employees weekly to serve at charities throughout Tampa Bay.
For more information on how to qualify, sponsor or volunteer for a Habitat for Humanity home, please call 813-239-2242.
About Habitat for Humanity of Hillsborough County
Habitat for Humanity of Hillsborough County became an affiliate in 1987 and is part of a global, nonprofit housing organization founded and operated on Christian principles. Habitat Hillsborough is dedicated to eliminating substandard housing locally through constructing, rehabilitating and preserving homes; by advocating for fair and just housing policies; and by providing training and access to resources to help families improve their housing conditions. Habitat Hillsborough also operates two ReStores at 3738 E. Hillsborough Avenue and 11236 W. Hillsborough Avenue, which offer a wide variety of new and used building materials and home goods at discount prices. Habitat Hillsborough has built over 180 homes across the county. In addition, they serve homeowners through their home preservation program.
About Williams Automotive Group
Williams Automotive Group is the parent company overseeing Wesley Chapel Toyota, Wesley Chapel Honda and Tampa Honda. Established as Southeast Automotive Group in 2000, Williams Automotive Group continues to expand in the state of Florida.
Mr. Williams has 35+ years experience in the automotive industry not only on the retail side, but also previously with Southeast Toyota Distribution. Previous dealerships the group has owned include Toyota Mall of Georgia, Kia Mall of Georgia, Toyota Mall East, Mitsubishi Mall of Georgia, Infiniti of Ft Myers, Gwinnett Place Kia and Hyundai Mall of Georgia.
Williams Automotive Group supports organizations such as St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital of Tampa, Metropolitan Ministries, Habitat for Humanity, and Ronald McDonald House.
The Williams Automotive Group was recently awarded the open Lexus of Wesley Chapel point.
