Morris Habitat opens biggest affordable housing project yet, with 25 homes in Randolph
Morris Habitat For Humanity continued a remarkable run of affordable housing projects on Thursday, with a ribbon-cutting for its biggest-ever effort: 25 condominiums on a former industrial site in Randolph.
"Today, we will cut the ribbon for Phase One of this project on a property that sat neglected and dilapidated, sad and empty, waiting for the right time and the right people to come together to build a community for families," said Blair Schleicher Wilson, the nonprofit group's CEO. "How awesome is that."Wilson addressed a crowd of volunteers, supporters and some of the 13 families who will occupy the complex on Bennett Avenue.
“This is a dream come true for our family,” said one of the new homeowners, Ilham Bouatia. “Right now, we have four children and we’re living in a cramped, two-bedroom apartment. This home will give us room to grow.”
Partner families are required to complete at least 300 hours of "sweat equity" before closing on their homes. Sweat equity may be earned in various ways, but each primary applicant is required to work at least 100 of those hours personally.
Nearly 4,000 volunteers representing civic, church, corporate and school groups have donated 18,126 hours to the Randolph project, the group said.
“A project like this doesn’t get done without the amazing partnership and collaboration from so many people believing in the power that a decent, healthy and affordable home has on people, families and the community," Wilson said.
Since 1985, Morris Habitat has served nearly 1,000 families through building 188 local homes, preserving 431 for low-income and senior residents and helping 373 families with housing solutions worldwide, the group added in an emailed statement.
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The new community was built on the former E.A. Porter industrial site, a 2.5-acre property that was acquired by Randolph in 2008 and donated to Habitat. U.S. Rep. Mikie Sherrill, D-Montclair, advanced the project by securing a $3 million federal grant in 2022.
"We recently had to stop construction on part of this project due to lack of funding, so this legislation could not have come at a better time," Wilson said at the time of the grant award.
Additional funding was obtained from the Randolph Township Affordable Housing Trust Fund and the federal Self-Help Homeownership Opportunity Program, operated through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
The project includes one- and two-bedroom homes with ADA accessibility to first-floor units and energy-efficient utilities, the group said.
William Westhoven is a local reporter for DailyRecord.com. For unlimited access to the most important news from your local community, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.
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This article originally appeared on Morristown Daily Record: Morris Habitat opens first phase of 25 home project in Randolph NJ
