Volunteers with the Florida Dream Center have spent the past six months fixing up a foreclosed home, donated by Wells Fargo Bank, for Lisa Schipper and her family.

  • Lisa Schipper and her three sons moved into a new home Saturday
  • Florida Dream Center and Pinellas County made it all possible
  • Schipper went through several rounds of qualifiers to be selected

Schipper and her three children have been living in shelters and motels as she works to get back on her feet.

Throughout all of her struggles, Schipper says she managed to stay strong for her kids.

"I've never a day in my life not strived to do for them,” said Schipper. “How I keep it together? I don't know. I've never known since I was 15 how I ever managed to keep it together, but this last year especially has been the hardest ever.”

The partnership between Florida Dream Center and local government was facilitated through Pinellas County’s Family Housing Assistance Program, which assists families through case management to help them find housing, pay for rent and utilities, improve employment, and receive education and other services.

"Just having stability changes things, and having safety you have a place to go to and can count on it. It changes your whole perspective and there's hope for the future,” said Bill Losasso, president of the Florida Dream Center.

Qualifying individuals must be homeless and living in a shelter or motel, work 25 hours a week, have custody of young children, and work with Human Services staff to become financially self-sufficient.

Besides helping the homeless, The Florida Dream Center revitalizes neighborhoods through its Adopt-A-Block program along with several other services.