Habitat for Humanity in Monmouth County (HFHMC) dedicated its 60th home at a ceremony last week with thanks all around for the cooperative effort, supporters and volunteers who contributed to the construction of the home on Leonard Avenue in Atlantic Highlands.
The ceremony was attended by the partner family, Habitat staff, volunteers, sponsors, local government officials and community members. The new owners are Johnny and Melinda Rivera and their three children.
Kim Stulb, President of HFHMC’s Board of Trustees, and HFHMC Executive Director, Diane Kinnane headed the brief program that accompanied the official opening of the two family house expected to be ready for occupancy this month. Stulb, a staunch supporter of affordable housing, also represents longtime Habitat sponsor, T&M Associates.
Among those attending along with the Rivera Family, were borough administrator Robert Ferragina, all six Council members, Monmouth County Commissioners Director Tom Arnone and Deputy Director Sue Kiley as well as Rev. Jill Hubbard Smith of Atlantic Highlands & Navesink United Methodist Church who offered a blessing on the house and a Litany of Dedication.
New Jersey Natural Gas’s Tom Hayes, a longtime ally of affordable housing and the HFHMC surprised Kinnane with a donation for HFHMC’s next project, a single family home planned for building on Ideal Ave in Middletown.
Well-wishers and community members brought gifts for the family, including gift cards, supplies for the house and yard, and an original painting of the new home by local artist, Karin Trunz of Monmouth Arts. Former Mayor of Atlantic Highlands, Rhonda Le Grice presented the family with a gift card to Jaspans Hardware Store.
“We are thrilled to be dedicating this home to such a deserving and hardworking family,” said Stulb. “Welcoming a family home and giving them a safe and affordable place to live is such an important part of our mission.”
When selected, Habitat partner families participate in the construction of their home or other Habitat programs and projects. Families are required to perform 200-375 hours of “sweat equity”, depending on family size, prior to closing on their homes. This partner family has broken all records with the number of “sweat equity” hours that they have completed. The family will purchase the home with an affordable, no-interest mortgage.
The residential lot was donated by the Borough and since the project began in September 2021, more than 100 volunteers have worked alongside Habitat construction crew to complete the house.
The new construction is part of the “House that Rock Built” program, a partnership between HFHMC and Beasley Media/95.9 Wrat. which works to secure support for new affordable home construction in Monmouth County. Thew radio station has partnered with HFHMC since 2015 in raising both funds and awareness .
Local organizations and businesses who shared time and skills to make the dream of home-ownership a reality include teams from Alternate Ending Beer, Coastal Habitat, Columbia Bank of NJ, Europastry USA, Hillmann Consulting, Markel Corporation, Morgan Stanley, Park Church, Prodigy Search, Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School, Tower Hill Church, First Energy Foundation, Geodis, Lowes, New Jersey Natural Gas, One Anchor (Old Castle), Resources Real Estate, T&M Associates, and Valley Bank.
Habitat for Humanity in Monmouth County is part of a global, nonprofit housing organization that seeks to put God’s love into action by building homes, communities and hope. It is dedicated to having safe and affordable homes locally and worldwide through construction, rehabilitation and preservation by advocating for fair and just housing policies; and providing training and access to resources to help families improve their living conditions.
For more information, visit www.habitatmonmouth.org.
