“3-2-1 Habitat!”
With those words George Oliphant of the NBC show “George to the Rescue” got to work transforming two GMM Habitat homes in Perth Amboy. The Emmy Award-winning reality show that spotlights home renovations for deserving families recently teamed up with GMM Habitat and the two families who had partnered with us to build adjacent homes on Inslee Street and Garretson Avenue. [Click here to watch the episode, which premiered Oct. 26. It can be seen on Peacock and YouTube.]
George worked with interior designer Blanche Garcia to completely furnish both three-bedroom homes and add touches like lighting, paint, and wallpaper. The team worked within a budget and received significant donations from various vendors, suppliers, and contractors.
The partnership between “George to the Rescue” and GMM Habitat was a year in the making, after a producer heard about our 2023 Veterans Build and reached out to plan the show’s first two-home renovation in its 15-year history.
“We were surprised to be contacted by NBC. At first, we were skeptical,” said Terry-Ann Zander, Vice President of Marketing and Communications. “We had a brief telephone conversation and grew very excited about the opportunity to showcase the work of our affiliate.”
CEO Liz DeCoursey ensured that the show help both the Delossantos and Velez-Camacho families in Perth Amboy and explain the affordable housing crisis in New Jersey. She also wanted to make sure that the show highlighted how all GMM Habitat families contribute “sweat equity” labor to the construction of their homes.
“We didn’t want it to come across that Habitat gives away homes,” Liz said. “We wanted everyone to understand that families help build their homes alongside volunteers and that they purchase the homes with an affordable mortgage.”
Before the “rescue,” show producers scouted the home sites; met the families and the Habitat team; and toured the two homes under construction. In August, as the two families were working at their homes completing landscaping, George traveled to Perth Amboy to surprise them with their selection. The interior design work got under way in September.
When renovation was revealed Oct. 4 — and the families got their first look at their new homes and furnishings — they were in awe. Many were moved to tears.
“I can’t believe this is for us,” Maximina said in Spanish.
“This is really ours?” asked Hilton.
“This is really our home, where we’re going to live forever and make memories,”, Mylcaryz said.
Habitat’s construction team led by Tom Wescoe, Site Supervisor Carlos Vazquez, Project Manager Terry Flood and Core Crew volunteers were all critical to ensuring that construction was completed in August so the GTTR team could transform the homes into beautiful living spaces for the families. A small group of GMM Habitat volunteers helped with the renovation as well.
