Impact
What We Do
In the Jacksonville Beaches, one in five families must choose between spending money on a safe place to live and spending money on groceries, health care, education or reliable transportation. Everyone should have enough money left over after paying rent or mortgage costs to cover life’s necessities.
The statics on affordable housing are staggering:
- According to the Out of Reach Report, Fair Market Rent for a 3-bedroom home in the Jacksonville Metro area is $1,391 each month. An affordable payment for a renter earning the area’s median income is $1,034. (National Low Income Housing Coalition)
- Beaches Habitat for Humanity homeowners are people who need a little help to stand on their own. Most work full time in occupations that include childcare workers, nursing assistants, and cashiers, with annual mean wage in 2019 of $26,880, $27,240 and $22,740 respectively. To afford Fair Market Rent for a 3-bedroom home in Jacksonville, a family needs a minimum annual income of $55,640. (Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Low Income Housing Coalition)
- Working at minimum wage ($8.56 per hour), an employee would need to work 125 hours each week to afford a 3-bedroom apartment at Fair Market Rent. (National Low Income Housing Coalition)
When we approve a homeowner for our program, we work with them to ensure that their monthly payment is affordable. That means that the total of their mortgage payment, contribution to a home repair escrow, homeowner's association dues, homeowner's insurance, and property taxes does not exceed 30% of their gross household income. Learn more about our homeownership program.
Building Opportunities through Education
Since 2001, Beaches Habitat for Humanity's Education Program has partnered with the City of Atlantic Beach to provide academic support and mentorship opportunities to children in the community. Students who participate regularly in academic support and mentoring activities earn higher grades, gain confidence, and are ultimately more prepared for college or vocational training.
- Students who attend the after school program at either the Jordan or Baker Community Center at least 50% of the time demonstrate one grade level growth in reading comprehension.
- Over the course of 19 years, Beaches Habitat Prep Club has and continues to serve 195 families.
More Than Housing
Habitat for Humanity has shown that building homes does more than put a roof over someone’s head. Studies have shown that the impact of affordable housing is undeniable.
- Quality of housing central to childhood development (Boston College and Tufts University)
- Survey outlines need for affordable quality housing among U.S. families (MacArthur Foundation)
- 7 things you should know about poverty and housing