Partner Family member Sonia, a 30-year Jersey City resident, says that when she bought her house in 2013, she “didn’t know it was going to be so much of a headache!” In the six years she’s lived in the house with her mother and sister, she’s paid for one major repair after another while working three jobs to foot the bills.
Sonia, a Marine Corps veteran, emphasizes, “I am a person that likes to save.” During her first year as a homeowner, she had to replace the house’s main water line, then redo the basement after the water line repairs were completed. “That was a big chunk of money,” she says. “Then I had to do other things, like replace the roof.” The second floor also had no heat.
“All the big problems, one after the other,” she says. Sonia thought, “I can’t possibly get another job [to pay for it all]—I already have three!” But a coworker mentioned Habitat for Humanity’s repair programs to her, and then she got an email from JoAnn Northgrave, Coordinator at Hudson County Office of Veterans Affairs with details about Habitat for Humanity of Greater Newark’s Veterans Initiative.
Sonia applied and says she’s extremely grateful. “You guys are awesome. You guys always returned my calls and emails. Everything was easy because you guys took care of everything!” After Sonia was approved for the Critical Repair program, Habitat of Greater Newark contractors arrived at her house to fix the skylight and replace her boiler.
Sonia urges other veterans, “Apply. There’s help out there.” Do you know a veteran homeowner who could benefit from our Critical Repair program? Email our Family Services Coordinator at gbernal@habitatnewark.org to find out more.
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Help a veteran family achieve their homeownership dreams.
