HabiJax
| File:HabiJaxlogo.png | |
| Nickname | HabiJax |
|---|---|
| Formation | December 31, 1987 |
| Founder | nine housing visionaries |
| Type | Nonprofit |
| 59-2880071[1] | |
| Legal status | 501(c)(3) |
| Purpose | build & provide affordable housing for economically disadvantaged people |
| Headquarters | 2404 Hubbard St, Jacksonville, Florida 32206 |
| Coordinates | 30°21′10″N 81°39′10″W / 30.3528°N 81.6527°WCoordinates: 30°21′10″N 81°39′10″W / 30.3528°N 81.6527°W ⧼validator-fatal-error⧽ |
Region | Duval County, Florida |
Key people | Monte Walker (President/CEO)[1] |
Main organ | Board of Directors |
Revenue | $11,299,089 (2021)[1] |
| Expenses | $8,953,450 (2021)[1] |
| Endowment | $26,893,026 (net assets)[1] |
Staff | 63[1] |
Volunteers | 3,758[1] |
| Website | https://www.habijax.org/ |
Habitat for Humanity of Jacksonville (called HabiJax), is the largest affiliate of Habitat for Humanity (HFH) in the United States.[2][3] Habijax was named the 8th largest homebuilder in the United States by Builder Magazine for 2009.[4] HabiJax in 2023 marked 35 years of service and has provided homes to over 2,300 families.[5][6]
The plan[edit]
The program builds "simple, decent, and affordable" housing using volunteer labor and sells them at no profit, with no interest charged on the 25-30 year mortgage and 1% down payment.[7] To qualify for the program, the applicant must demonstrate real need for a home. Conditions include dangerous and/or deteriorating housing or pending closure (including public housing). They must be employed or have sufficient income to cover the cost of their mortgage. They are required to contribute 300 hours of sweat equity[7] on other homes or by working in a Habijax Restore. They must also attend homeowner's classes on maintenance of a home and finances.[6][7]
The Hicks Scholarship Program provides scholarships at the University of North Florida. Children whose parents own a Habijax home are eligible to apply for a renewable four-year scholarship including tuition, room & board, and books if granted acceptance to the school.[7]
New homes are not the only service that Habijax provides. In targeted neighborhoods, the nonprofit also performs home repairs, weatherization, and rehabilitation for clients, as well as housing counseling. As of 2012, they had helped over 7,500 families.[8]
Local cooperation[edit]
Faith-based sponsors include coalitions from Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian, Lutheran and Catholic churches. The Episcopal Church of Our Saviour has been a supporter since 1994 and their crew works on several homes each year.[6]
Even U.S. Navy Sailors volunteer when their ship is in port. Many of the sailors had worked at Habijax previously. When asked why they volunteer on their off time, one technician responded, "A good friend of mine lived in a HabiJax home when he was a kid. Having a home to grow up in is something I think a lot of us take for granted."[2] On Thursdays each week, between 10 and 20 sailors from the USS Gettysburg (CG-64) would work on a build site, doing whatever needed to be done. For some, it was a way to give back. One sailor stated, "I grew up on the Salvation Army. Now that I don't need their help anymore, I can give back."[9]
Fairway Oaks[edit]
The Jimmy Carter Work Project constructed the Fairway Oaks community of 85 single-family homes in 17 days.[10] The former President and his wife, Roselyn were joined by former Housing Secretary Jack Kemp, Habitat founders Linda and Millard Fuller, Jaguars owners Delores and Wayne Weaver and Mayor John Delaney, who worked with local volunteers in September, 2000.[10]
On January 25, 2002, during a visit to the Fairway Oaks HabiJax site in north Jacksonville, the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Mel Martinez said, "Sweat equity programs, like Habitat for Humanity, help more and more low-income families open the door to homeownership."[11] Some residents of the Fairway Oaks development have subsequently complained of health problems. Some residents argued that part of the development was constructed over a landfill, with one resident finding layers of garbage under his kitchen floorboards. Other residents allege poor construction. A lawsuit filed against HabiJax and the City of Jacksonville was dismissed[12][13]
However, it was unclear whether the issues are due to lack of maintenance or substandard construction.[13] A Habitat for Humanity volunteer commented, "Many of our new homeowners do not understand the difference between renting and owning. We now have a class on The Responsibilities of Home Ownership. We teach them about home maintenance and repair; it works." One Fairway Oaks resident insisted that some owners don't know how to take care of their homes: "It's simple stuff: if there is mildew, don't get a lawyer, get a bottle of bleach".[13]
Tiny houses[edit]
Habijax joined the Tiny-house movement in mid-2020 with plans for a community of fifty 500-600 ft² homes in the Lackawanna neighborhood on the Westside of Jacksonville.[5] It was funded by a grant from a Delores Barr Weaver charity.[14]
Construction began in January 2021 and the project was expected to be completed in three months. The Northeast Florida Builders Association and their member builders joined Habijax to complete the build. In a change from their Modus operandi, these houses will rented to one or two person households. Jacksonville's affordable housing crisis worsened after the pandemic, with half the city's renters paying more than 50% of monthly income on housing, which should not exceed 30%. CEO of HabiJax Monte Walker explained, "They will come furnished with appliances and internet access as well. So, it’s just a different way for us to serve the community in a different kind of structure.[14]
ReStore[edit]
The organization also has a business that sells new and used home improvement products at good prices. Their stock comes from donations by homeowners, construction companies, businesses, and excess from their purchases. Habijax operates two ReStores in Jacksonville and the profits fund the construction of additional homes. They also partner with North American Van Lines to assist moving families to donate unneeded household items to the local ReStore.[15]
CEO retires[edit]
Mary Kay O'Rourke retired in 2020 after 23 years at Habijax and just as the pandemic closed the Habijax office for two years. She started in 1997 as a family selection coordinator, then the manager of family services position became available and she was promoted. A couple of years passed before she became COO. In 2004 she was interim CEO for a year, then named President and CEO. Through the years, she has met nearly every Habijax client--over 2,000 families.[16] O'Rourke helped keep the non-profit financially secure by adopting a "diversified revenue model" which included fundraising campaigns, opening two ReStores to sell home-improvement products and construction materials, mortgage finance products, and now tiny house rentals. [16]
References[edit]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 "IRS Form 990" (PDF). pdf.guidestar.org. Candid. Retrieved 11 August 2023.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "FRCSE Sailors pitch in for community housing at HabiJax". navair.navy.mil. United States Navy. Retrieved 11 August 2023.
- ↑ Spears, Angela. "Habijax Building New Community on the Northside". First Coast News.com. WTLV-TV. Retrieved 4 January 2006.
- ↑ Harding, Abel. "Habitat for Humanity now one of nation's ten largest homebuilders". Jacksonville.com. Florida Times-Union. Retrieved 3 July 2010.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Patrick, Steve. "HabiJax to build tiny houses in Lackawanna". News4jax.com. WJXT News4JAX.com. Retrieved 11 August 2023.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Baldwin, Kerry. "Our Saviour Habijax ministry members give deserving families "a hand up rather than a handout"". oursaviourjax.org. Episcopal Church of Our Saviour. Retrieved 11 August 2023.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 "Habitat for Humanity of Jacksonville". guidestar.org. Candid. Retrieved 11 August 2023.
- ↑ Cravey, Beth. "Habijax model home kicks off New Town project Monday". Jacksonville.com. Florida Times-Union. Retrieved 11 August 2023.
- ↑ "USS Gettysburg Teams Up With HabiJax". MayportMirror.com. August 3, 2006. Archived from the original on November 4, 2006. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ 10.0 10.1 Schoettler, Jim. "HabiJax volunteers raise walls and hopes". Jacksonville.com. Florida Times-Union. Retrieved 14 September 2001.
- ↑ [1] Archived 2007-08-07 at the Wayback Machine Habitat for Humanity International website, HUD Secretary Commends Habitat for Humanity's Jacksonville Partnership
- ↑ Patterson, Steve. "Judge says lawsuit claiming Fairway Oaks homes built on dump debris was filed too late". Jacksonville.com. Florida Times-Union. Retrieved 11 August 2023.
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 Harlow, John (January 4, 2009). "Charity homes built by Hollywood start to crumble". London Times. The Times. Retrieved January 4, 2009.
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 Pringle, Lena. "Small wonders: Construction underway for 1st HabiJax tiny homes project". News4jax.com. WJXT News4JAX.com. Retrieved 11 August 2023.
- ↑ "Go North Habitat for Humanity ReStore Donation Program". northamerican.com. North American Van Lines, Inc. Retrieved 11 August 2023.
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 Reese-Cravey, Beth. "After 23 'inspirational' years, HabiJax CEO retires to her home 'after helping so many others find theirs'". Jacksonville.com. Florida Times-Union. Retrieved 11 August 2023.
External links[edit]
- HabiJax-Habitat for Humanity, Jacksonville official website
- Habitat for Humanity, International official website
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