Habitat For Humanity Builds 18th Affordable Home

Katiria Rodriguez and her daughters, Kamiah and Izabella, will be moving into their new home on First Avenue soon. (Photo courtesy Northern Ocean Habitat for Humanity)

TOMS RIVER – The Northern Ocean Habitat for Humanity closed on its 18th affordable home, and its owner will soon move in.

Katiria Rodriguez and her daughters, Kamiah and Izabella, will be moving into their new home on First Avenue soon. Here they are with Mayor Tom Kelaher. (Photo courtesy Northern Ocean Habitat for Humanity)

More than 40 members of the community attended the closing ceremony on First Avenue. It’s built on a 40×100-square-foot lot. Since it was undersized, it could not be built on under normal circumstances. Therefore, the township donated it to Habitat for construction.

Soon, Katiria Rodriguez will move in with her two daughters, Kamiah, and Izabella. This follows years of being on government assistance programs while working multiple jobs. She is currently renting a home in Brick, which was a step up from the transitional housing that she had been staying in while being essentially homeless.

The construction was made in part by partnering with the following organizations: Bywater Construction LLC, M&T Bank, Luminer Foundation, IGH Charitable Foundation, Inc., Wells Fargo and 100.1 WJRZ-FM.

(Photo courtesy Northern Ocean Habitat for Humanity)

Habitat for Humanity is a nonprofit housing ministry that works to construct permanent housing. The Northern Ocean County affiliate has completed 18 new affordable homes, 60 Hurricane Sandy critical home repairs and more than 147 home repairs. Northern Ocean Habitat also operates the ReStore, a furniture and home goods thrift store at 1201 Lakewood Road (Route 9) in Toms River.

For more information, or to contribute time or funds, contact Habitat at programdirector@nohfh.com or at 732-228-7962, ext. 109 or visit nohfh.com/donate-now. Interested parties are also encouraged to “like” Northern Ocean Habitat for Humanity on Facebook.