Coastal Habitat for Humanity has stepped up to expand the goal of helping those who need a safe and decent place to live. They are addressing the challenges resulting from a shortage of available land on which to build new affordable homes, with an innovative program called, A Brush With Kindness (ABWK).

This program is designed to assist low income homeowners who, due to age or physical limitations, are unable to keep up with the exterior maintenance of their property. Homes that have fallen into disrepair create safety issues for the homeowners and detract from the overall well being of their communities. After years of deferred maintenance, homes fall into a downward spiral of code violations, loss of homeowner insurance and ultimately in mortgage foreclosure that impact not just the individual homeowners and their extended families, but entire neighborhoods.

A Brush With Kindness brings volunteers together to live out their faith and values through helping restore homes… helping homeowners to avoid issues that can lead to losing their homes. It helps communities break down spiritual, political and cultural barriers by extending grace and hope to struggling neighborhoods through simple acts of kindness.

Utilizing the services of volunteers, from teenagers to seniors, corporate and church groups, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts... Habitat mentors oversee the painting, minor repair work, property clean up, lawn maintenance and gardening chores at sites that have been pre-screened to ensure they meet the eligibility guidelines and qualify to be part of the program. This program also involves the homeowner, relatives and neighbors in contributing their hands-on efforts or “sweat equity” in helping with the work. It is truly a team effort.

Coastal Habitat for Humanity is the first Habitat affiliate in New Jersey to successfully introduce the A Brush with Kindness program. Since its inception in 2006, the program has grown exponentially, from four homes completed in the initial trial year, to 10 homes in 2007 and 14 more in the 2008 season. As of the beginning of the 2011 season, Coastal Habitat has completed 55 ABWK projects. All communities in the area from Deal Rd. in Ocean Township to the north, Brielle to the South and in the area east of the Garden State Parkway are eligible for the ABWK program.

If you are a current low income homeowner in this area who has a need for exterior home repair, you may be eligible to be an A Brush With Kindness recipient.

Apply to be an A Brush With Kindness Homeowner. Download form.
Sign Up To Volunteer
View Photo Galleries of past A Brush With Kindness projects.
View a video that discusses the Neighborhood Revitalization Program.


We are actively looking for volunteers who would like to be trained to become an ABWK Team Leader. The Team Leader will assist the ABWK Steering Committee by providing expertise, leadership and coordination of a team of volunteers assigned to work on a specific qualifying house. They also assess the scope of the work required, meet with the homeowner to schedule work and lead the team of volunteers the day of the project.

Anyone interested in getting involved in The ABWK program can Sign Up To Volunteer and list that they are interested in becoming an ABWK Team Leader.

Click here to download an application form.

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