By Allison Perrine
ATLANTIC HIGHLANDS – Under sunny skies May 6, volunteers of Habitat for Humanity in Monmouth County (HFHMC) came together to start building a home and ramps for families in need.
With the help of many, an empty lot on Leonard Avenue will soon become a two-story structure for individuals with low to moderate incomes. The project will take an estimated six to eight months and, when finished, will be occupied by owners on the first floor and renters on the second floor. It will mark the organization’s 60th home built in Monmouth County.
“This past year and a half has been so heart-wrenching. To be able to do this, to give back, is an incredible thing that you’re doing,” said Mayor Loretta Gluckstein at the site last Thursday morning. “This is an amazing town and incredible place to raise children. I want to thank Habitat for Humanity and all of you (volunteers) that are making it possible for families to fulfill a dream – a dream of having a place they can call home.”
The project kicked off with one of the organization’s “women build” events, this year May 6 through 8, which are typically held each spring and fall. At these events, mostly – but not exclusively – female volunteers help build homes for those in need. Previous construction experience is not required. There are team mentors on-site with construction experience who teach volunteers the basics of home building and how to operate the machinery.
It was the first women build since the initial shutdowns imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“It’s an opportunity to empower women,” said Felicia Levine, HFHMC director of development. “We encourage people to come out, see what it’s like to use a power tool if they haven’t done that before; many people are repeat people. They come back year after year because it means so much.”
On Thursday, an estimated 20 women and 10 male mentors split into three groups to begin the work. Some started on the framing for the Leonard Avenue home. Others began building wheelchair-accessible ramps for three homes in Monmouth County – in Belford, Howell and Morganville – as well as a shed. Several other volunteers cycled in over the next several days, including some Habitat homeowners.
According to Levine, those who move into Habitat homes must complete 200-300 hours of “sweat equity,” meaning they must help the organization with other builds, at its ReStore or in other ways.
“We don’t give away homes. We help people earn homes,” she said. Those eligible for a Habitat home must fill out a prequalification form, go through an interview process, provide employment documentation and letters of reference, banking information and more. “You want to make sure that they are going to be able to be in this home and be able to cover their mortgage and stay here forever.”
The Leonard Avenue property was donated by Atlantic Highlands to Habitat, according to Lia Papamarkou, HFHMC board president. Once completed, the home will make an “impactful” difference in the lives of those who move in; the area is not cheap and all Habitat homeowners are first-time buyers, she said.
“Not everyone has access to something like an affordable home,” said Papamarkou, adding that it is not shameful to own an affordable home.
Ron Klenk was one of the mentors on-site Thursday. It was his eighth year participating in an HFHMC women build and said it’s “always a great day.”
Tinton Falls resident and routine volunteer Denise Brooker agreed that it’s always nice to come out and help others. Before Thursday, she had worked on other Habitat home sites doing roofing and siding work, sheetrocking and ramp and rail building. “I like giving back to the community,” she said.
Several organizations sponsored this year’s women build, including Lowe’s, New Jersey Natural Gas, FirstEnergy Foundation, Thrivent and T&M Associates, among others. Levine extended gratitude to the sponsors as well as the Borough of Atlantic Highlands and volunteers who collectively made the project possible. “It’s all about making a quality of life,” she said.
The article originally appeared in the May 13 – 19, 2021 print edition of The Two River Times.
