Valerie

It Really Is A Great Thing

Partner Family member Valerie and her husband Jesse Jr. bought their home in Newark’s West Ward, where they live with their 31-year-old son Jesse III, ten years ago. After they removed an old oil tank, the family noticed that their basement was much leakier than the average basement in their neighborhood. “After a hard rain, ours would get two to three inches of standing water.”

Valerie knew that the basement also contained asbestos hazards. But after paying high utility bills for their uninsulated home, the family had little cash to spare for repairs. In November 2019, the need for repairs became urgent when Jesse III became paralyzed from the waist down. Luckily, Valerie was able to update their family’s application with PSE&G’s Comfort Partners program, and the family was quickly approved.

Through Comfort Partners, Habitat of Greater Newark partners with PSE&G to repair and weatherize homes in Essex, Hudson, and Union counties. After the program’s initial home assessment, Habitat of Greater Newark fixes problems such as roof repair, asbestos removal, or poor basement drainage. Next, PSE&G contractors boost the home’s energy efficiency through measures such as thermostat upgrades, wall/attic insulation upgrades, efficient lighting product installation, and more.

Work began in early 2021. “They handled the water in the basement and removed the asbestos. They also covered up an exposed soffit in the driveway.” She continues, “It really is a great thing. I didn’t have the funds [for the repairs her basement needed].” With the water inflow halted, the family can dream. Valerie’s family hopes that in the future they’ll be able to renovate the basement into living space for Jesse III.

Do you know someone who would benefit from Habitat of Greater Newark’s Critical Repair & Healthy Homes Initiative?