Habitat for Humanity of Long Branch started in 1993 as an affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International, a Christian based Ecumenical organization that seeks to eliminate substandard housing worldwide. For over two decades, Habitat for Humanity has been helping low-income families achieve the dream of home ownership
While our name implies that our Habitat affiliate is limited to Long Branch, in reality our service area stretches from Raritan Bay on the north to Ocean Township on the south, and from the Garden State Parkway to the Atlantic Ocean. Our affiliate raises funds and draws volunteers from the entire service area, not just Long Branch. Habitat for Humanity has two other affiliates in Monmouth County. One in Freehold, Western Monmouth Habitat for Humanity and one in Neptune, Coastal Habitat for Humanity.
Families to occupy Habitat housing are chosen from applicants who are service area residents. A selection committee chooses the homeowners based on their need and ability to repay the loan as well as on their willingness to work on their own home. The application and review process is entirely unbiased and follows all provisions of the Federal Housing Act. A typical applicant will earn between $30,000 and $47,500 annually. These families are provided with a partner to help make the transition to homeowner easier.
Habitat provides these partner families with a hand-up, not a hand out so they can become homeowners not through charity, but through hard work.
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Our goal is to build new homes, so that decent and affordable housing can be within the reach of any family willing to work for its dream. Habitat builds homes with the help of at least 450 hours of "sweat equity" from the families that will live in the homes. The homeowners, in turn, are helped by volunteer labor and tax-deductible donations of money and materials.
When completed, the home is sold at no profit, with a no-interest loan to the partner family. The money received from the sale of the house goes to support the building of more houses.
Habitat is always in need of help. If you would like to swing a hammer or a paintbrush, take on office duties, or serve on one of our numerous committees, or if your corporation, religious group or organization wants to coordinate a work crew to help with our building efforts, call us at 732-728-0441.
In a real sense, you are Habitat. Your donation helps us to purchase the materials to build or renovate houses to provide families with decent, livable homes.
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