HOPELESSNESS TO HOPE AFTER weathering Superstorm Sandy with her two foster children, at a friend’s house, Pam Callender woke up to a text from her neighbor that read “not good” – which might have been the understatement of the decade. She shared her story: NO MATTER how I sliced the budget, I came up $150,000 short to rebuild by home. A year after Sandy I was not one nail closer to getting my house rebuilt. Every single hope I had to getting my life back to some kind of normal ended in polite rejection. I started telling myself the best option for my family and I was to walk away from the house; go into foreclosure. But I knew it would be almost impossible to get a job if my credit was horrible. I promised myself I would try one last time to find help. I went online and found Coastal Habitat. Today, only because of Coastal Habitat’s supporters and it’s volunteers, I am picking paint colors and making plans to return to my new home (on the same lot). I can’t wait to put the past two years behind me. It’s extremely humbling to get the kind of help I have had from Coastal Habitat. There are not the right words to describe the thoughtfulness of the detail all the volunteers are putting into my new house. This is so much more than me coming home. Sandy could have destroyed my credit and life in so many other ways than just where I live. It is overwhelming. Going from hopelessness to hope is something extraordinary.
TODAY, Callender works side-by-side with the volunteers that helped her, on other partner family construction sites to build simple and safe housing.
REBUILDING COMMUNITIES BY THE NUMBERS
40 Superstorm Sandy-impacted families assisted including single parents, veterans, disabled and seniors 26 Communities restored in 18 Southern Monmouth County cities and towns 2,000+ Volunteers from around the United States 14,000+ Volunteer hours
THE TALLY SINCE SUPERSTORM SANDY, COASTAL HABITAT HAS INSTALLED: 58 Windows 43 Doors 600 Lbs. of Nails 37 Light Fixtures 20 Faucets 3,000+ Sq. Ft. of Flooring 5,000+ Sq. Ft. of Roofing 28 Smoke Detectors 9 Doorbells 8 Bathtubs to Relax In
IN THEIR OWN WORDS "THANK YOU for helping my neighbors. I can finally see our block getting back to normal." — @OGGRANNY3 "COASTAL HABITAT has been there for us and without them we would not be able to have returned home." — NICOLE K. "VOLUNTEERING with Coastal Habitat was the most rewarding thing I did all summer." — JENNA K. "WHEN YOU work with a homeowner you become a part of their family." — DONALD G. "WORDS CANNOT wholly express my gratitude for your kindness, generosity and commitment. I never knew all the ways you assist those in need. You are a blessing to me and my family." — TED C. "THE ONLY group that wanted to help us was Coastal Habitat." — CINDY W.
TWO DECADES OF IMPACT SINCE 10 LOCAL FRIENDS came together to found Coastal Habitat in 1994, the organization has been dedicated to giving a hand-up to partner homeowners in 18 Southern Monmouth County cities and towns. Together, thanks to the tireless work of its volunteers and supporters, Coastal Habitat has built 15 single-family homes, repaired almost 100 with its Brush With Kindness and Neighborhood Revitalization Initiative programs and educated hundreds of homeowners about basic property maintenance. Along with three other charities, Coastal Habitat is responsible for the Springwood Avenue Redevelopment Program in Asbury Park. Every day, more is done and more are helped. Neighborhood by neighborhood, community by community, with the help of its supporters, Coastal Habitat brings people together to build sustainable, energy-efficient and healthy housing.
"Bringing People Together to Build Homes, Communities and Hope"
HOPELESSNESS TO HOPE
AFTER weathering Superstorm Sandy with her two foster children, at a friend’s house, Pam Callender woke up to a text from her neighbor that read “not good” – which might have been the understatement of the decade. She shared her story:
NO MATTER how I sliced the budget, I came up $150,000 short to rebuild by home. A year after Sandy I was not one nail closer to getting my house rebuilt. Every single hope I had to getting my life back to some kind of normal ended in polite rejection.
I started telling myself the best option for my family and I was to walk away from the house; go into foreclosure. But I knew it would be almost impossible to get a job if my credit was horrible. I promised myself I would try one last time to find help. I went online and found Coastal Habitat.
Today, only because of Coastal Habitat’s supporters and it’s volunteers, I am picking paint colors and making plans to return to my new home (on the same lot). I can’t wait to put the past two years behind me.
It’s extremely humbling to get the kind of help I have had from Coastal Habitat. There are not the right words to describe the thoughtfulness of the detail all the volunteers are putting into my new house. This is so much more than me coming home. Sandy could have destroyed my credit and life in so many other ways than just where I live. It is overwhelming. Going from hopelessness to hope is something extraordinary.
TODAY, Callender works side-by-side with the volunteers that helped her, on other partner family construction sites to build simple and safe housing.
REBUILDING COMMUNITIES BY THE NUMBERS
40 Superstorm Sandy-impacted families assisted including single parents, veterans, disabled and seniors
26 Communities restored in 18 Southern Monmouth County cities and towns
2,000+ Volunteers from around the United States
14,000+ Volunteer hours
VIDEO DIARY
2 YEARS IN 2 MINUTES
Watch the Coastal Habitat impact video
58 Windows
43 Doors
600 Lbs. of Nails
37 Light Fixtures
20 Faucets
3,000+ Sq. Ft. of Flooring
5,000+ Sq. Ft. of Roofing
28 Smoke Detectors
9 Doorbells
8 Bathtubs to Relax In
IN THEIR OWN WORDS
"THANK YOU for helping my neighbors. I can finally see our block getting back to normal."
— @OGGRANNY3
"COASTAL HABITAT has been there for us and without them we would not be able to have returned home."
— NICOLE K.
"VOLUNTEERING with Coastal Habitat was the most rewarding thing I did all summer."
— JENNA K.
"WHEN YOU work with a homeowner you become a part of their family."
— DONALD G.
"WORDS CANNOT wholly express my gratitude for your kindness, generosity and commitment.
I never knew all the ways you assist those in need.
You are a blessing to me and my family."
— TED C.
"THE ONLY group that wanted to help us was Coastal Habitat."
— CINDY W.
TWO DECADES OF IMPACT
SINCE 10 LOCAL FRIENDS came together to found Coastal Habitat in 1994, the organization has been dedicated to giving a hand-up to partner homeowners in 18 Southern Monmouth County cities and towns. Together, thanks to the tireless work of its volunteers and supporters, Coastal Habitat has built 15 single-family homes, repaired almost 100 with its Brush With Kindness and Neighborhood Revitalization Initiative programs and educated hundreds of homeowners about basic property maintenance. Along with three other charities, Coastal Habitat is responsible for the Springwood Avenue Redevelopment Program in Asbury Park. Every day, more is done and more are helped.
Neighborhood by neighborhood, community by community, with the help of its supporters, Coastal Habitat brings people together to build sustainable, energy-efficient and healthy housing.
"Bringing People Together to Build Homes, Communities and Hope"