Atlantic Beach, FL: Beaches Habitat for Humanity will offer expanded services for students and seniors, thanks to $20,000 in grant funding from The Beaches Community Fund of The Community Foundation for Northeast Florida. “This grant will allow us to continue providing services that will make stability and independence possible for all members of the Beaches communities. We are so blessed to have the support of The Beaches Community Fund,” says Curtis Ford, Chief Executive Officer and President at Beaches Habitat.

Beaches Habitat has identified two critical areas for the focus of the new grant funding: our after school program and a new Senior Repair Program.

In partnership with the City of Atlantic Beach, Beaches Habitat’s education program provides academic assistance for students as well as resources and enrichment opportunities at the Jordan Park and Gail Baker Community Centers. The grant from the Beaches Community fund will support the afterschool tutoring program and enrichment experiences for afterschool program participants including a visiting artist, a garden club and a Makerspace.

In addition, the grant will provide the resources necessary to begin a home repair program focused on area senior citizens who would otherwise be unable to complete repairs themselves or obtain a conventional loan for the work. The goal of the program is to complete critical repairs that affect the health and safety of the homeowners and allow them to age safely in their own homes. Services will include roof repair, construction of accessible ramps, window and door replacement, flooring repairs, and plumbing and HVAC repairs. Seniors in the Beaches communities who demonstrate a financial need will be eligible to apply for the program.

Since 1990, families in the Beaches community have partnered with Beaches Habitat to build or repair an affordable place to call home. Most recently, the non-profit completed construction of OceanGate, a community of 70 homes on Mayport Road in Atlantic Beach. A new community of 12 residences, Haywood Estates II, is currently under construction near the intersection of Mayport Road and A1A.

Beaches Habitat is grateful for the Beaches Community Fund’s support, which will allow them to continue to provide much needed services to Beaches residents.