Newark Veteran Gets New Home 3 Years After Superstorm Sandy

Habitat for Humanity Newark staff joined with city leaders, sponsors and build volunteers to dedicate a home to a U.S. Army veteran and his family last week.

During the ribbon cutting on South Ninth Avenue in the Central Ward, about 40 attendees gave a warm, rousing welcome to Isaac Ezirim, who lost most of his valuables in Superstorm Sandy when the waters flooded his storage facility in the Ironbound.

“I am so grateful to be here today, among all of you, to own the home of my dreams,” said Ezirim, before he cut a ceremonial blue and green ribbon on the front porch of his new, three-bedroom home in a quiet neighborhood off South Orange Avenue.

According to a release, Habitat Newark teamed up with the GI Go Fund to ensure that Ezirim, 52, would have the opportunity to own a home.

Ezirim devoted more than 200 hours of “sweat equity” to become a Habitat for Humanity family partner, and will live in the new home with his wife, Roseline, and their son, Isaac, Jr. who recently moved to Newark from Nigeria.

Ezirim hadn’t seen his family in five years, according to a release.

The home was built as part of Habitat Newark’s “Veterans Initiative” program, in which the nonprofit is aggressively constructing homes throughout Newark to serve returning veterans.

“This is the first of what we will be a string of homes constructed for deserving men and women who have given so much to preserve and protect our freedom,” said Jeffrey J. Farrell, CEO of Habitat Newark. “It is an honor to serve those who have so bravely served our country.”

Three members of the Newark City Council attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony. Councilwoman Gayle Cheneyfield Jenkins, who represents the Central Ward, welcomed Ezirim to the neighborhood and expressed her appreciation to Habitat Newark for constructing the home.

“Habitat for Humanity is one of the most important institutions around this country and we are proud to have them in the city,” Chenyfield Jenkins said. “They have helped build communities and lives, and give hope to people - whether they are families or veterans trying to participate in the American Dream, which is home ownership.”

The two other council members – John Sharpe James and Joe McCallum – both served in the military and also expressed the need for more veteran housing in Newark, a release stated.

Volunteers, donors and potential partner families can call Habitat for Humanity Newark at 973-624-3330 or visit them online at www.habitatnewark.org to learn more about the organization’s efforts.

Photo caption: Members of the community attend the opening of a home on South 9th Avenue in the city’s Central Ward, which was built as part of Habitat Newark’s “Veterans Initiative” program. From left: Central Ward Councilwoman Gayle Chaneyfield Jenkins; West Ward Councilman Joe McCallum; Isaac Ezirim; Habitat Newark CEO Jeffrey J. Farrell; and South Ward Councilman John S. James.

Photo courtesy of Habitat for Humanity Newark