Mission:  Seeking to put God's love into action, Habitat for Humanity brings people together to build homes, communities and hope.

 

Need:  Where there's a new home, there's a new hope.  Habitat's Vision is, "A world where everyone has a decent place to live."  Brunswick County Habitat for Humanity is a locally run affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International, an ecumenical housing organization.

 

Methods: Habitat works with the community to build and renovate decent, affordable housing to improve the lives of deserving people.  Habitat believes decent shelter is a matter of conscience and action, and invites others to join them. 

 

Volunteers from all backgrounds and areas of the county, including some Ocean Ridge residents, assist in house construction and in many other ways.  In addition, about once a month Ocean Ridge’s very own “Jersey Girls” prepare and deliver a delicious lunch to a Habitat worksite.  Laura DeCando and Peggie Bruckman are the coordinators, and the Jersey Girls have been doing this since April 2007.  They say the lunches are “not anything special,” but the meals receive rave reviews!

 

BCHFH recently began their newest Mission: to help existing low-income, elderly and disabled homeowners make needed repairs to their properties when they are unable to make the repairs themselves.  Habitat seeks new ways to increase awareness for and access to decent, affordable housing for those in need of a safe place to live. 

 

Results: Habitat International has built more than 600,000 homes around the world, providing more than 2.5 million people with safe, decent, and affordable shelter.

 

Since its founding, Brunswick County Habitat for Humanity has completed 50 houses here in Brunswick County.  One home was recently completed in Shallotte, and two more are now being built in Shallotte and Leland.  Before taking ownership, homeowners must meet strict requirements and invest substantial "sweat equity."

 

Personal Story: A recent beneficiary of our local Habitat is a Navy veteran, now in his 80s, who lives in Leland with his wife, in her late 70s.  He is a proud, independent man who after retiring volunteered in the community.  He recently had surgery that required placing stents in his legs.  Medically that was great, but it severely limited his ability to enter and exit his home.  A question arose whether the couple could even remain in their home. Their money is tight and there were few options.  Habitat stepped in and built a ramp and railing at their back doorway, near the driveway and back patio, so he now once again has full access to come and go.  There was no way the elderly couple could have saved the money to get this done.  And the funds that Habitat used were a portion of the $5,300 donation that ORCA made to Habitat following Bistro Night in late 2014.  Thank you for rescuing this deserving couple and making it possible!