Morris Habitat is Building for the Future in Middlesex County

Morris Habitat for Humanity brought together municipal and business leaders in New Brunswick on October 12 to address the shortage of affordable housing in Middlesex County. The forum, co- chaired by Withum and Northfield Bank, sought to update the community on current Morris Habitat projects and present various ways that local companies and governments could partner with the affordable housing organization to help local families in need.

“New Jersey is in the midst of a housing crisis, with a shortage of 225,000 affordable homes,” said Morris Habitat Interim CEO, Liz DeCoursey. “Morris Habitat has provided access to safe and affordable housing for nearly four decades, but we need to do more. We will innovate and seek more collaborations and partnerships with businesses and municipalities, and hopefully with some of you today.”

In 2020, after celebrating 35 years of providing safe, decent and affordable housing for families in the Morris County area, Morris Habitat expanded by acquiring the service area of Habitat for Humanity of Greater Plainfield & Middlesex County. The newly expanded affiliate is operating under the Morris Habitat name and maintains a second office at 2 Randolph Road in Plainfield. The acquisition effectively doubled Morris Habitat’s service area to 68 municipalities spanning 1,000 square miles in Morris, Middlesex and parts of Union and Somerset Counties.

Morris Habitat’s first project in Middlesex County was completed in Perth Amboy in 2021 for an Army Veteran, followed by a home in Old Bridge for a family of four last year. Construction of the 3-bedroom home in the Laurence Harbor section brought together hundreds of volunteers and united the community in a unique way.

Old Bridge Mayor Owen Henry expressed his gratitude at the gathering: “Morris Habitat has brought the town together like I’ve never seen before.” Mayor Henry lent his full support to the project and even volunteered to build at the construction site. He was also on hand to welcome the family home on the day of the ribbon cutting in 2022.

Old Bridge will partner again with Morris Habitat to build 12 new affordable homes in 2024, and Mayor Henry emphasized how important those homes will be for families in need.

In Perth Amboy, four units of affordable housing are planned with two single family homes currently under construction on Inslee Street and Garretson Avenue. One of those future new homeowners is an Army Veteran. Groundbreaking for two more single-family homes on Pearl Place are planned for later this year.

Tashi Vazquez, director of the City of Perth Amboy’s economic and community development, also praised their alliance with Morris Habitat: “Today we come together to recognize our partnership with Morris Habitat for Humanity and our shared vision to create a world where everyone has a

safe and decent place to call home. We have witnessed, firsthand, the incredible power of collaboration. Through our joint efforts we have not only built houses, we have built homes—homes filled with dreams, hopes, and the promise of a brighter future.”

Morris Habitat builds more than just homes—the organization empowers families to build brighter futures for generations to come. Home is the foundation to achieve the strength, stability and self-reliance that people need to shape a better tomorrow for themselves and their families. Additionally, every home constructed helps to strengthen the fabric and economies of local communities for all citizens.

The future Middlesex County homeowners will perform a minimum of 300 hours of “sweat equity” working alongside other Habitat volunteers toward building their own homes, the homes of others or volunteering in other capacities within the organization such as at the Morris ReStore or other community events.

ABOUT MORRIS HABITAT FOR HUMANITY

Morris Habitat for Humanity is part of a global, nonprofit housing organization committed to building homes, communities, and hope. The organization serves Morris, Middlesex and the Greater Plainfield area. Through volunteer labor and donations of money and materials, Morris Habitat builds affordable new homes and provides home repair services to income eligible families. Since 1985, Morris Habitat has served nearly 1,000 families through building 188 local homes, preserving 431 homes for low-income and senior residents, and helping 373 families with housing solutions worldwide. The organization has engaged more than 150,000 volunteers for various programs. Morris Habitat also operates a successful ReStore home improvement outlet which has kept 17,588 tons of reusable materials out of landfills and funded 36 homes. For more information, visit MorrisHabitat.org or call 973-891-1934.