The 2016 HabiJax Blitz Build from June 6-13 provided homes for deserving Jacksonville families.
Partnering once again with HabiJax, NEFBA members built 12 homes in the New Town community in six days. Also during the Blitz, Builders Care committed to repairing and restoring six existing homes.
During this build, HabiJax reached a significant landmark. The 2,000th HabiJax home was built, and it was built by NEFBA past President Rick Morales and Morales Construction Company.
NEFBA Builders had the objective of building the house below cost and giving a portion of the savings back to HabiJax.
The homebuilders that led the effort were Riverside Homes, Vintage Estate Homes, Dostie Homes, KB Homes, RP Witt Builders, A Crown Contractors, MasterCraft Builders Group, Landon Homes, Drees Homes, Dream Finders Homes, New Leaf Construction, Morales Construction Company, Generation Homes, ICI Homes and Providence Homes.
NEFBA has a long history of partnering with HabiJax, whose mission parallels and complements that of Builders Care, NEFBA’s charitable arm.
HabiJax was founded in 1988 and has become the largest non-profit affordable housing provider in Duval County. HabiJax is considered to be one of the most successful Habitat for Humanity affiliates in the United States, having provided homeownership opportunities and other housing services to more than 2,000 families.
In addition, HabiJax is an advocate for affordable housing and fair housing policies and provides workshops and other trainings to help families improve their housing conditions.
NEFBA has partnered with HabiJax in both challenging and unusual projects, such as a 100-home build blitz and completing one home in a 24-hour period.
“We always welcome opportunities to join HabiJax in its mission to provide new homes to deserving citizens of our area,” said Chet Skinner, NEFBA’s 2016 president. “Tapping into the resources of the builders association is the most logical choice to accomplish this work.
“Our members, who have an incredible reputation for helping others, once again stepped up the challenge,” Skinner said. “The partnership with HabiJax is a good fit because they share our goals and desires to see that safe, comfortable housing is available to everyone.”
Skinner chose this build as the president’s project for 2016.
Builders Care began work on six existing homes under HabiJax’s home repair program. It works like the new-home program in that homeowners invest sweat equity into the project.
“Three NEFBA contractors assisted us in the renovations,” said Builders Care Executive Director Justin Brown. “Southern Dynasty, HW Contracting and Lewis Enterprises were our contractors. Wells Fargo gave us a grant to assist in our home renovations, and their employees volunteered to paint one of the homes we renovated. Before the Blitz even began, we had about 75 volunteers from Keller Williams who painted three homes we would renovate during the Blitz.”
Cooperation between contractors, NEFBA, Builders Care, HabiJax, volunteers, the community and homeowners resulted in 12 new homes and six homes restored to a safe, healthy living environment, some with new roofs, functioning heating and air systems, repaired plumbing and other structural issues resolved.
Beyond providing housing that meets today’s standards, these new and renovated homes are a source of pride for the community and for Jacksonville.