Nassau Habitat for Humanity
Press Release
Submitted by Jadera Kraus
December 10, 2019
Over the years Nassau Habitat for Humanity has supplied over 40 families with new, safe, and affordable housing. Through our volunteers and financial contributors, we are able to build new homes for two families nearly every year. Habitat relieves a costly financial burden for qualified families, as all of our families come from housing situations burdened with overcrowding, mold, and other infestations. Other immediate financial stressors prevent them from being able to escape these conditions and improve their overall quality of life.
Habitat for Humanity is a hand UP, not a hand OUT. Our homeowners must qualify to receive assistance. First, each family undergoes a screening to see if they are financially eligible and meet the criteria of need. Then, each family is interviewed by two of our current homeowners, who both sit on the Homeowner Selection Committee (HSC), and discuss homeownership. Next, a home visit is completed by two additional members of the HSC. They then bring the application to the HSC who vote to bring the potential homeowners to the Board. The Board of Habitat will then vote to give final approval for the application.
Once approved, our homeowners are required to commit at least 300 hours of their own efforts in what we call “sweat equity”, often with the help of friends and family, before they can close on their new home. Homeowners must also take finance and home maintenance classes, at which point they are partnered with another homeowner (a current member of the HSC) to help them through any questions or issues they may have. Lastly, they continue working for their home by making regular payments as you would with any mortgage. This process demonstrates partnership, promotes dignity, and ensures that only qualified families will enjoy the joy of homeownership. Nassau Habitat for Humanity will begin taking in January of 2020 for individuals in need of two-bedroom homes.
Volunteering through Habitat can be an educational experience as there is a lot of hands on construction. From using power tools, to painting, to drywalling, there’s always something to do and something to learn. Time working with Habitat is eligible to use as volunteer hours for high-schoolers (age 16+). We will be located at our job site on Wednesday and Saturday mornings from 8-12:30 (601 Calhoun St. Fernandina Beach FL). Please come out, join us, and see for yourself what Habitat is all about.