BERKELEY – Another family is being welcomed to the Manitou Park section of the township with help from the Northern Ocean Habitat For Humanity, local businesses and elected officials.
Habitat provides housing for those in need, and chooses a “partner family” to gift a home. The reason they are a partner is that they help build the house alongside the volunteers. They put in the “sweat equity” and then help future families as well.
“If you were to tell me four years ago when I walked into Habitat for a job application that I would be here, I wouldn’t believe you,” said Isaiah. “I still can’t believe it now. As a kid we would move from apartment to apartment, rental house to rental house, always trying to find a stable place to call home. It was hard to feel like I belonged somewhere. Knowing that my family and I are going to have a place to call home, is the biggest blessing in our lives. Thank you, Habitat.”
This is Habitat’s 24th home build and the second to be completed this year in Manitou. This section of town is adjacent to South Toms River. It has gone through a renovation over the last decade or so, with abandoned homes torn down and new houses built. Roads were constructed or lengthened. The land for the Habitat houses is donated by the town.
Local elected officials Senator Carmen Amato, Councilman Michael Signorile, and Commissioner Frank Sadeghi were among those on hand for the ceremonial turning of the first shovel of dirt marking the beginning of construction.
Home Repair
Habitat also has an active Critical Home Repair where Ocean County homeowners who meet income requirements can have repairs performed that will make their homes safer. There were 63 households who benefitted from this during fiscal year 2024. The goal is to hit 85.
Habitat shared some stories about homeowners who were helped.
Darlene, 65, is the widow of a Marine Corps veteran. She hurt her back years ago. She asked Habitat for help with her bathtub. Habitat performed a tub-to-shower conversion, and repaired her deck and replaced the roof.
Steve has lived in his home for 15 years and shared concerns about his broken back deck and drafty windows while shopping at the Habitat ReStore on Route 37 in Toms River. Crews were able to repair the deck, replace the front steps, and replace the bay windows.
“I haven’t been able to sit on my deck in 5 years and now I can,” he told the organization. “The windows were so drafty and I’m so grateful for all you did. The volunteers really know they’re stuff and could do all the repairs. I’m so happy that my house is back together.”
Another resident who has lived in her house for more than 20 years said she had electrical issues and a water leak. When volunteers arrived, they could hear running water. They repaired the leak, installed vinyl plank flooring, and repaired the breaker.
A couple who has been married for 53 years needed a roof replacement to address issues with their homeowner’s insurance.
“Financially, we couldn’t have done this ourselves. We had a leak and it was a blessing to have our roof repaired. Everyone at Habitat was so friendly and we couldn’t be happier,” Debbie said.
Projects were funded, in part, by Amboy Bank Foundation, Brick Township Community Development Block Grant, Dave and Nan Daly, Federal Home Loan Bank, Friends Foundation for the Aging, Kearny Bank, Lowe’s, Manasquan Bank, Ocean County Senior Services, Ocean County Community Development Block Grant, OceanFirst Bank, Project Home Repair, and Toms River Community Development Block Grant.
For more information, visit northernoceanhabitat.org.
