By Stephen Appezzato
FAIR HAVEN – Community leaders gathered Nov. 1 to celebrate the groundbreaking of Habitat for Humanity’s first affordable dwelling in Fair Haven. Once completed, the project will welcome two families to the borough.
According to Monmouth County Habitat for Humanity (MCHFH) executive director Diane Kinnane, this will be the nonprofit’s 84th home built in the county.
“The borough approached us, actually a few years ago, to see if we would be interested in partnering with them and assisting them in meeting their affordable housing obligation,” Kinnane recalled. Thrilled at the opportunity, Kinnane said MCHFH presented a plan to construct a two-family home on one lot, offering the borough the opportunity to provide two affordable units at once.
In the past, MCHFH completed Ramps and Rails and A Brush with Kindness projects in Fair Haven, building wheelchair ramps and offering home maintenance to those in need. This is their first full build in the borough.
Originally, the property was one large lot on the corner of Allen Street and Hendrickson Place. The borough subdivided the parcel and “delivered it to us shovel ready” with the necessary approvals in place, Kinnane said.
“For Habitat, it was just absolutely wonderful, because we didn’t have to jump through any hoops, so to speak,” she said.
Kinnane said the first floor of the house will be an owner-occupied moderate-income unit (below 80% of the median county income). A homeowner has not yet been selected. “We’re still in a search mode,” she said. Those interested in applying can visit MCHFH’s website for more information on the unit, eligibility requirements and application procedures.
The second-floor tenant unit of the house will be reserved for a family in the very low-income bracket(below 30% of the county median income). The bor- ough will focus on selecting a tenant, she said.
Eligibility requirements are in accordance with New Jersey’s Uniform Housing Affordability Controls (U.H.A.C.), which governs the administration of affordable units and affordability controls for units.
“That was a part of the conveyance to Habitat, that we have to abide by those regulations and ensure that both the homeowner and the tenants were selected according to the regulations, and that’s why the town also hires an administrative agent who monitors that activity,” Kinnane explained.
With the foundation of the home complete, MCHFH will begin framing the house and aims to complete the build in the spring. The goal is to have the home occupied before June.
Habitat for Humanity, with more than 1,500 affiliates at the grassroots level in more than 70 countries, is the No. 1 single-home nonprofit builder worldwide.
In July, Coastal Habitat for Humanity and Habitat for Humanity in Monmouth County merged to form MCHFH, adjoining staff, volunteers, programs and resources to serve all 53 municipalities in Monmouth County more efficiently and effectively.
“Our mission is to build homes, communities and hope. But, you know what we really do and (what) we pride ourselves on, is we really change families’ lives. With the home, there’s a new foundation, so to speak, for the family going forward – stability, security, independence. That’s a critical part of our message,” said Kinnane.
The article originally appeared in the November 7 – November 13, 2024 print edition of The Two River Times.
