What does "home" mean to you?
Updated: Apr 22, 2021
The reasons why I joined the Orlando Regional REALTOR® Foundation go far beyond making home ownership a possibility for everyone.
Think about what home means to you, and what “home” means to us all. Home is not just a place, but a feeling. It is where you are safe and secure, where you can escape the stresses and pressures of the world and a place that is your sanctuary. Unfortunately, that is not the reality for so many Central Floridians. This is where my passion lies, helping displaced Central Floridians find a place to call home.
In 2020, we saw many of our friends and neighbors financially crippled by the COVID-19 pandemic. By helping residents understand the affordability and assistance programs that are available, we were able to help people utilize these programs and stay in their homes effectively. Having assistance programs is not enough to keep our communities going.
I am often asked about why affordable housing is important, the truth is that there is this misconception that affordable housing is for very low-income families or those on the verge of homelessness. The reality is that the people in need of this type of help are no different from you or me. They are teachers, first responders, health care workers, retail employees, construction workers, office workers, and so many young professionals.
When we must live far away from where we work, we have longer commute times, higher transportation costs, more traffic, and less time in our day to spend with our loved ones. If you no longer had an hour commute to work, what would you do with that time?
People with more spare time have lower transportation costs, more quality time to spend with family, recreational activities, and more. Think about how different our community would be if all of us had a comfortable home. Everyone should have a dream and the support needed to make it a reality.
Please help us bring that dream to life by contributing today. https://www.orlandorealtorsfoundation.org/
Sincerely,
Candy Cole
Executive Director
Candy Cole has worked with non-profits for more than 15 years and has a passion for giving back to the community. She has an MBA from the Crummer Graduate School of Business at Rollins College and a bachelor’s degree in Accounting from the University of Central Florida.