In Ample Time for Christmas, Habitat Dedicates First ‘Thrivent Builds’ Home

WHITESBORO – Habitat for Humanity Cape May County dedicated its first-ever “Thrivent Builds” home Dec. 14 at 307 Sumner St.
The “stick-built” home, as compared to a pre-fabricated, modular one, was constructed with the support of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, and their Thrivent Builds with Habitat for Humanity program.
Habitat Cape May was one of only two Habitat affiliates in New Jersey selected to receive a 2013 Thrivent Builds grant, which funded construction and rehabilitation of 113 Habitat homes in 31 states across the U.S. during 2013, according to a release.
Thrivent Financial provided 50 percent of the cost of the house construction at 307 Sumner, and the South Jersey Shore Chapter of Thrivent, including the congregations of Messiah Lutheran Church in Ocean View, Epiphany Lutheran Church in Pleasantville, St. John Lutheran Church in Ocean City, Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Dorothy, St. James Lutheran Church in Folsom, Zion Lutheran Church in Egg Harbor City and Cape May Lutheran Church in Cape May, raised an additional 10 percent of the construction cost, and provided numerous construction volunteers.
St. Brendan the Navigator Parish in Stone Harbor and Avalon provided support to the project as well, funding building of the home’s foundation.
The new Habitat homeowner Amelia English and her daughters Donna’e, Indiera and Amaya, with the help of family, friends and fellow parishioners at Christ Gospel Church, contributed over 300 hours of “sweat equity” into the building of their home. They worked side-by-side with over 150 local Habitat volunteers.
The lot on Sumner Street, which is expected to be the site of two more single-family homes in 2014, was donated to Habitat for Humanity by Middle Township; facilitated by the township’s Affordable Housing Advisory Committee.
Over 20 local businesses contributed, donated or discounted building materials and services to the project, everything from architectural and electrical work to shingles, siding, windows and doors, flooring, kitchen cabinets and appliances.
Habitat for Humanity is not a “give-away program.” The English family applied for the home along with 65 other local families. They were selected based on need, willingness to partner with Habitat, and their ability to pay the monthly mortgage (including property taxes and insurance).
Habitat homes are sold to partner families at less than market value, which is made possible by the generosity of volunteers and donors, and a zero-interest mortgage provided by Habitat Cape May.
“The dedication of this home represents the achievement of a long-term goal of Habitat Cape May, to build two houses per year in our local community,” stated Executive Director Shawn Lockyear.
“Building this home was truly a team effort, from the incredible support of Thrivent Financial and local Lutheran congregations, to the involvement of many local residents of Whitesboro who volunteered in support of the English family, to our ever-growing crew of local construction volunteers,” she added. “We also want to recognize Middle Township Committee, township administration, and the team at Middle Township Zoning and Construction Offices, who have been incredible partners in our effort t bring more affordable housing to Cape May County” Lockyear continued.
Habitat Cape May will construct two more stick-built homes during 2014. Sign-up for volunteer can be done online: www.habitatcapernaycounty.org.
Habitat for Humanity is a nonprofit ecumenical Christian housing ministry that builds simple affordable houses in partnership with those in need of decent housing. Habitat operates at the grassroots level, with affiliates in all 50 states and over 90 countries around the world, and has built 800,000 homes since 1976. Visit habitat.org for more information.
Thrivent Builds with Habitat for Humanity is a multi-year, multi-million dollar partnership between Thrivent Financial for Lutherans and Habitat for Humanity international. Thrivent Builds is designed to involve Thrivent members and Lutherans in helping provide a “hand up” to people in need of affordable housing, offering them a path to greater economic independence. Excluding government funding, Thrivent Builds with Habitat for Humanity is Habitat’s largest single source of funding, constructing more than 2,900 homes in the U.S. and around the world since 2005. For information, visit ThriventBuilds.com.
To contact Phil Broder, email pbroder@cmcherald.com.