Veterans Initiative
Habitat for Humanity of Greater Newark
Support Our Local Veterans
Veterans who live throughout Essex, Hudson and Union Counties have served in World War II, the Korean War, the Cold War, the Vietnam War, Grenada, Panama, Lebanon, the Persian Gulf War, Afghanistan, Iraq, and other conflict locations. Unfortunately, the transition to civilian life is not always easy. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) considers about 1.4 million veterans at risk for homelessness due to poverty, lack of support networks, and dismal living conditions in overcrowded or substandard housing.
In appreciation of their service, Habitat of Greater Newark created the Veterans Initiative to support our local veterans by providing critical repairs to existing homes and by helping families achieve first-time homeownership.
Through the Veterans Initiative, Habitat of Greater Newark has built one home and completed seven critical repairs for veterans in need. Read more about the home we built with veteran Partner Family member Isaac Ezirim.
Our two most recent Veteran Critical Repair projects were funded by The Home Depot Foundation as part of its commitment to veteran causes. Since 2011, the Foundation has invested more than $335 million in veteran causes and improved more than 47,000 veteran homes and facilities in 4,500 cities. In 2018, the Foundation pledged an additional $250 million to veteran causes taking the total commitment to half a billion by 2025.
In addition, through Team Depot, Home Depot’s associate-led volunteer force, volunteers devote thousands of hours each year to building and repairing homes for those who have served. The Home Depot Foundation notes that the company contains 35,000 veteran associates.
Veteran Partner Family member Michael (on the right on the cover) says that he “greatly appreciates the help from Habitat,” noting with frustration “It’s difficult to get help when you are a veteran homeowner, as opposed to a veteran who’s homeless or facing homelessness.”
Would you like to volunteer on a Habitat of Greater Newark Veterans Initiative project? Would your company like to donate towards improving a veteran’s housing situation? Contact Vanessa at 973-624-3330 ext. 100 or email vbazydlo@habitatnewark.org to get started.
