Essex County Habitat for Humanity

Homeownership program: families in need of a decent place to build safe and affordable homes in partnership with us. Habitat houses are modestly sized. They are large enough for the homeowner family's needs, but small enough to keep construction and maintenance costs affordable. By using the labor of volunteers and prospective homeowners, employing efficient building methods, keeping house sizes modest, using donated construction materials and appliances, and issuing no-profit loans, Habitat makes its houses affordable for low-income families to purchase. Affordable homeownership helps create the conditions that free families from instability, stress and fear and encourage self-reliance and confidence. Studies show that strong and stable households are foundational to child development and growth. When a home fosters - instead of hinders - health and safety, families can flourish. Owning an affordable home also allows homeowners to lift up their entire family by saving for their futures and investing in educational opportunities, bolstering job opportunities and career growth.

In addition to building and repairing homes Habitat for Humanity operates a retail store (restore) and discount home improvement center that accepts donations of new and gently-used building materials, furniture, appliances and housewares and resells them to the general public through a retail storefront warehouse. These items would generally end up in local land- fills if not for the operations of a restore.