About Habitat for Humanity
A new 3-bedroom single-family home is currently underway on Lawrie Street for a qualified moderate-income applicant. The house will have a one-car garage, one and a half bathrooms and gas-fired heating and hot water. The house will be ENERGY STAR certified for energy efficiency. Green or reusable building materials will be used whenever feasible. Selling price for the home will be $135,000, with a zero-interest 30-year fixed mortgage held by Morris Habitat. The home will have a 30-year deed restriction that allows modest equity upon resale, but mandates that it be sold at an affordable price to another income-eligible family. In lieu of a down payment, the future homeowner will complete 300 hours of sweat equity helping to build their Habitat home.
About the Family
Applications were offered to people with moderate income who were currently living in the rental properties of the Perth Amboy Housing Authority. Noris Mercado was selected as the homeowner. She will live in the new house with her 16-year-old daughter, her 14-year-old son and a grandson. Noris has always dreamed of owning a home. Her parents were never able to achieve this goal, and she wants to set an example for her own children. She works as a production technician making hearing aids.
The total cost of the project is approximate $260,000. Funds for the project will be raised through the collaborative efforts of PARTNER, Morris Habitat for Humanity and the local interfaith community. Sponsorships include a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), a HOME grant through Middlesex County and a Self-help Homeownership Opportunity Program (SHOP) grant from HUD. Pro bono professional services have been contributed by attorney James Mullen, Esq. (Basking Ridge), Stephen Kowalski from LiMN Architects (Basking Ridge), and engineer Fred Stewart from Stewart Surveying and Engineering (Rockaway).
A groundbreaking ceremony was held in October 2013. Foundation work began in spring 2014. Roof framing and windows and siding were installed by summer 2015. The planned completion date is November 2015. Join us for a home dedication ceremony at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, December 11.
For more information on Morris Habitat for Humanity, click here!
Investors Grant for Second Habitat Home...Coming in 2016
Coming Soon in late 2016!
Our impact this year has changed our community!
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Contributed in scholarships to public housing & section 8 participants.
$169,000+
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Annually contributes to fund self-sufficiency, housing counseling, and financial literacy education.
$40,000
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In escrow funds. In 2022, we had 83 FSS program participants and graduated 7.
$89,785.36
