HabiJax
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HabiJax of Jacksonville, Florida is the largest of the 1,600+ affiliates of Habitat for Humanity International (HFH) in the United States.[1] The program builds "simple, decent, and affordable" housing using volunteer labor and sells them at no profit, with no interest charged on the 25 year mortgage.
HabiJax has a good working relationship with the Jacksonville Housing Authority and many local businesses & organizations contribute to the program; their employees & members volunteer in the actual building. Companies include JEA, Jacksonville Jaguars, Stein Mart, Everbank, Northeast Florida Builders Association, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida, Swisher International Group and Fidelity National Financial. Faith-based sponsors include coalitions from Episcopal, Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian, Lutheran and Catholic churches. Even U.S. Navy Sailors volunteer one day each week while their ship is in port.[2]
The Jimmy Carter Work Project constructed the Fairway Oaks community of 85 single-family homes in 17 days. 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.[3]
On January 25, 2002, the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Mel Martinez visited Fairway Oaks neighborhood in north Jacksonville, the location of 85 new Habitat for Humanity homes. Martinez was in Jacksonville to celebrate the new development and commended Jacksonville's public, private and nonprofit sectors in working together to solve affordable housing needs. Martinez stated, "Sweat equity programs, like Habitat for Humanity, help more and more low-income families open the door to homeownership." [4]
HabiJax completed their 1,500th home in 2007, and 2008 marks 20 years of service to the Jacksonville community. [5]
[edit] References
- ^ First Coast News.com: Jan 4, 2006-Habijax Building New Community on the Northside
- ^ Mayport Mirror: Aug 2, 2006-USS Gettysburg Teams Up With HabiJax
- ^ Florida Times-Union: Sep 14, 2000- HabiJax volunteers raise walls and hopes; Carter feels spirit of 'equality, love' in HabiJax work
- ^ HUD Secretary Commends Habitat for Humanity's Jacksonville Partnership
- ^ Sustainabuild.net: Jan 4, 2008-2008 Women Build: HabiJax and Breaking Ground
