Jersey Shore Magazine

J e r s e y s h o r e • S p r i n g 2 0 1 9 38 JERSEY SHORE PEOPLE Northern Ocean Habitat for Humanity Rebuilding and "ReStore"-ing the Jersey Shore Community by Jill Ocone E veryone needs a foundation to build a future and deserves to have a decent life. Northern Ocean Habitat for Humanity in Toms River is helping the Jersey Shore community do both. Since 2000, Northern Ocean Habitat for Humanity has revitalized Jersey Shore neighborhoods by repairing and building homes and providing a sense of both inclusiveness and stewardship through volunteerism and collaboration. "It's people helping people and neighbors helping neighbors. That's what Habitat is all about," said Executive Director Suzan Fichtner. She said that bringing individuals, businesses, volunteers, and civic/ paying an affordable mortgage and building equity after purchasing it. Fichtner explained that home own- ership improves the quality of life for both the family and the commu- nity. "Since 2000, Northern Ocean Habitat has constructed nineteen new homes for hard-working people in the Jersey Shore community," she said. "We provide a decent, afford- able, and safe home for homeowners while touching the hearts of volun- teers, neighbors, local businesses, municipalities, sponsors, and founda- tions that help." Fichtner also said that homeown- ership leads to stability for everyone in the family, but most importantly, for children. "We see the return on our investment in security and sta- bility for children who, as a result of having a 1,200-square-foot home to call their own, aspire for college and beyond. Having that home changes the tide of their lives." continued on page 40 school/non-profit groups together builds communities, homes, and hope. Northern Ocean Habitat for Humanity has several different pro- grams and initiatives all with the goal of helping northern Ocean County neighbors attain a better future and a decent life. New Construction with Home Ownership Northern Ocean Habitat for Humanity works with qualified low-income families to help them realize the dream of owning their own home through a "hands-up, not hand-out" model in which home- owners actually assist in building their own home, which they then purchase from Northern Ocean Habitat for Humanity. Families put in hundreds of so-called "sweat hours" working alongside volun- teers to build their home, then they have the unique opportunity of courtesy of Northern Ocean Habitat for Humanity

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