MELBOURNE, Fla. -- A Melbourne resident used her inheritance money to buy land to build a home but was stopped in her tracks after finding out her impact fees were more than $10,000.
- Jennifer Cleveland did not have the money to cover impact fees
- Fair Housing Continuum helped cover the costs
- Melbourne council wants to create program to help community
Jennifer Cleveland bought some land near downtown two years ago, hoping to build her dream home catered to her and her service dog because she is visually impaired.
She was shocked to find out that her impact fees were about $14,000.
Unable to afford such a hefty fee, she says she got the courage to speak up at a public meeting earlier this year.
The Fair Housing Continuum nonprofit is stepping up and covering her $14,000 impact fees.
Melbourne City Councilman Paul Alfrey says there are many people with similar stories, so the City Council wants to help by creating a program.
"Try to create a program, if there is a hardship they can get a payment program so they can start building," Alfrey said.
According Cleveland, construction is set to begin within the next few weeks and should be completed within a year.
"We found a solution, and I'm blessed we are moving forward," Cleveland said.