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Our Mission:
Metro Camden Habitat for
Humanity partners with God, people, and organizations to build and
renovate houses for those in need of affordable, decent homes in Camden County. In addition, will foster and empower healthy communities through
educational programs in personal finance, successful homeownership, and
job training in the construction trades.
Facts about Camden City:
Based on 2007 data from
the United States Census Bureau, 35.6% of the city's residents live in
poverty, the third highest rate in the nation.
The city had a median household income of $25,961, the third lowest of
all U.S. communities with populations of more than 65,000 residents,
making it America's third poorest city.
Just one year prior, Camden ranked number one for its
poverty rate and had the lowest median income. In comparison, New Jersey has the second highest median income in the country, just behind Maryland. Nine of NJ’s counties rank in the top 100 wealthiest counties in the U.S. It is for this reason that the Board of Directors has decided to focus on
rebuilding the neighborhoods and lives of Camden City residents as a
priority within our service area of Camden County.
Abandoned row houses are
being rehabbed in blighted blocks of Camden. No longer havens for
drugs and crime, these buildings are transformed and now providing
shelter for families in need of a decent place to live. If not
for Habitat’s interest-free mortgages these families would never
be able to afford to own their own home.
With your help, we can revitalize Camden’s neighborhoods.
So far, we
have housed 49 families. Please consider offering your time, financial
support and prayers to help us bring more families dreams into reality
here in Camden City!
NEWS
Cooper Plaza Project Groundbreaking in honor of World Habitat Day (October 5, 2009)
Supporters from the City of Camden, State of New Jersey, corporations and the community turned out to celebrate the groundbreaking of 9 new homes by Metro Camden Habitat for Humanity on Monday. This project, made possible by the support of many, including City of Camden, Cooper University Hospital, Danellie Foundation, Fannie Mae, Federal Home Loan Bank of NY, PHH Mortgage, PSE&G, State of NJ Department of Community Affairs, State of NJ Housing & Mortgage Finance Agency, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, just to mention a few. This event was one of 10 events held nationwide marking World Habitat Day. Speakers included Monsignor Robert McDermott (Camden Churches Organized for People), Douglass Wagner (Executive Director Metro Camden Habitat for Humanity), Mayor Gwendolyn Faison, Albertha Hyche (Interim Chief Operating Officer (COO)), Melissa Castro-Marmero (Office of U.S. Senator Robert Menendez), Dana Redd (State Senator, Councilwoman), Joanna Aniello (HUD Deputy Regional Director), Gira Bose (Director of Government Relations (HMFA)), Sheila Roberts (President Cooper Lanning Civic Assn.), Monica Leibovitz (Director of Community Development Cooper University Hospital), Barbara Lowe (Habitat homeowner), Leah Brown and Kadeedra Harrison (future Habitat homeowners), Jeff Harley (blessing of the ground).
"Camden County Participants in the 2009 Build a House Build a Dream Contest for Kids"
Affordability
of "Extreme Homes"
The house in Pennsauken built by "Extreme
Makeover Home Edition" has been in the news since
day the makeover team came to town to help a family
in need. More recently questions have come up regarding
the affordability of the property since it went up
for sale for one day. MCHH comments to the Courier
Post about the (post link to the article here b/c
it finishes the sentence) versus the Habitat for Humanity
model (posted May 7, 2008 Courier Post)
Waiting on the World to Change – 20/20
highlights Camden’s children growing up in poverty
Many people have seen the 20/20 Diane Saywer episode about Camden kids
and have felt compelled to help however they can.
We have been listed as an organization in Camden who
helps children. We do this by providing affordable
housing to families who could not afford a conventional
mortgage. While we do not work directly with the children
who were highlighted in the episode we do help families
in need of affordable housing in Camden City. A Habitat
house is safer, dryer, warmer and usually larger than
the family’s previous living situation. Increased
privacy fosters a better environment for homework,
enabling children to excel in school. Fewer than half
of the students in Camden schools complete the year
in the same school they started--most because their
family had to move when the roof started leaking or
the rent increased. With an affordable Habitat house,
children don’t have to move from school to school.
Furthermore, once housing is affordable, many of our
homeowners use the leftover money to pay for tuition
at private schools, in order to give their children
the best opportunity to receive a quality education.
How you can help: We are always in need of financial
contributions to be able to build the houses for the
families. We also welcome volunteers to participate
on the worksite with us as well. Please contact Amy
and visit our Volunteer page for more information
on volunteering in Camden, NJ this spring/summer.
See the video on
ABC's website: Click
here to see the original story.
Update on where they are now (aired 11/10/07) Click here to see the updated story.
UPCOMING EVENTS
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