Organization is Now Habitat for Humanity Newark & Greater Elizabeth
Since 1986, Habitat for Humanity of Greater Newark has been committed to helping people achieve homeownership in Newark and throughout Essex County, serving a community with 750,000 residents.
Now, that territory has nearly doubled, as Habitat for Humanity International has awarded Habitat Newark the Essex, Union and Hudson Counties service area. With the expansion, Habitat Newark is officially changing its name to Habitat of Greater Newark.
Habitat will now serve every municipality in Essex County as well as every town in Hudson and Union Counties with the exception of Plainfield, Scotch Plains and Fanwood.
“To say we are elated about this expansion is an understatement,” said Jeffrey J. Farrell, CEO ofHabitat of Greater Newark. “We have been in discussions with Habitat International about the critical needs that have been left unfulfilled throughout Elizabeth and most of Union County. Farrell said the expansion would not have been possible without the work and commitment of the late Jim Kellogg of the Kellogg Foundation, who introduced Farrell to the opportunity and began the important dialogue that ultimately led to this announcement.
The non-profit will be taking over the territory that had been served by Habitat for Humanity Elizabeth. The organization has been dormant in recent years, prompting an opportunity for Habitat to fill the important role in the community.
“We are particularly pleased with our efforts to provide critical repairs and homes for returning veterans in Essex, Hudson and Union counties,” Farrell added. “We are now undertaking the largest construction project in our history, known as Harmony Point, in which we are building a development in Newark for deserving future homeowners.”
Farrell said he is eager to meet with government, business and religious leaders throughout Union County in the coming months to ascertain need, identify funding sources and to become an important thread in the community fabric.
“We can’t wait to get started,” he said.