History

 

Our Story

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In 1995, a group of passionate community members came together with a bold belief: that every hardworking family in Southern Ocean County deserves a decent place to call home. They rolled up their sleeves, brought others along, and launched Habitat for Humanity of Southern Ocean County. Since then, we’ve built 37 new homes, moved and renovated another, and partnered with even more families through our Critical Home Repair Program, helping seniors, veterans, and individuals with disabilities remain safely in their homes.

 

We know that lasting change doesn’t happen to people; it happens with them. That’s why Habitat isn’t a giveaway program. Families who partner with us invest hundreds of hours of “sweat equity” by helping build their homes and the homes of their neighbors. They attend homebuyer education workshops, and they purchase their homes through an affordable mortgage with no interest. When homeowners make their monthly payments, those funds go directly into a revolving fund to help build the next home,  creating a powerful cycle of community investment.

 

Homebuyers are selected through a fair and inclusive process based on three things: their need for safe, affordable housing; their ability to make monthly mortgage payments; their willingness to partner with us through sweat equity and education. We are proud to serve with people of all faiths and backgrounds, and we do not consider race, religion, gender, age, or any other protected status in our selection process. Everyone deserves the opportunity to build a better future.

 

And it all starts with a home.

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