Blog

Morris Habitat for Humanity commemorated 35 years of building homes, communities and hope with a celebration at its headquarters in Randolph on October 22, 2020. Joined by local elected officials, donors, volunteers, Habitat homeowners and friends, the nonprofit organization reflected on its successes and shared plans for the future.

“This is a glorious day to bring the community together to celebrate 35 years of providing safe, decent and affordable housing for local families in need,” said CEO Blair Schleicher Wilson. “But we build more than just homes—we empower families to build brighter futures for generations to come.”

Octavia Chavis, Morris Habitat’s very first homeowner, agreed. Back in 1985, she and her husband, Willie, moved from apartment to apartment with their three young sons. Even though both held full-time jobs, homeownership was out of their reach.

“I am so grateful that Morris Habitat came into our lives,” Chavis told the crowd, as she described how her family has grown and thrived. Chavis recalled how the couple put in more than five hundred hours of sweat equity while building their home in Morristown, starting the model of partnership with homeowner families that provides a “hand up, not a handout.”

Sandy Jones also spoke about becoming a homeowner with Habitat. With the security of living in one place, her four daughters have all gone on to higher education or successful careers  She continues to be a Morris Habitat volunteer and has even traveled to work on Blitz Builds around the country.

Rev. Alison Paden of First Presbyterian Church in Mendham gave a blessing.

In his speech, State Senator Anthony Bucco remarked that Morris Habitat “is the perfect model for achieving the American dream of home ownership and of the community coming together to give families a sense of hope.” Senator Bucco and Assemblywoman Aura Dunn presented a proclamation from New Jersey to Morris Habitat, honoring its work over 35 years.

From humble beginnings of building one or two houses a year, Morris Habitat has grown into one of the most active Habitat affiliates in New Jersey. In the last decade alone, the organization completed 74 affordable homes—and more than 100 projects are planned over the next four years.

Since 1985, Morris Habitat has served more than 600 families, built 120 local homes, and preserved another 200 homes for low-income and senior residents.

The organization has engaged more than 130,000 volunteers for its various programs. The affiliate also operates a successful ReStore home improvement outlet in Randolph that has kept 11,000 tons of reusable materials out of landfills and funded 28 homes.

According to Schleicher Wilson, these achievements have served to energize the organization. “Next summer we will be breaking ground on Morris Habitat’s largest project in the state—25 condo units, right here in Randolph.”

The project is being constructed in partnership with Randolph Township, which donated the property on Bennett Avenue. Four buildings will contain one-, two- and three-bedroom condos. Families will be able to use a community meeting room, sidewalks, bike path, outdoor picnic area and playground.  The complex will be handicap accessible and will meet the highest standards of energy efficiency and safety. Steve Westhoven, President and CEO of New Jersey Natural Gas, presented Morris Habitat with a $35,000 donation for this project.

Randolph Mayor Christine Carey highlighted The Crossings at Bennett Avenue project in her remarks: “Several years ago, we joined forces with Morris Habitat on a plan for the development of 25 housing units on the former E.A. Porter industrial site.  I am happy this project is coming to fruition. I can’t wait to see the results, the new homes and the happy families and homeowners.”

To support families on their path to homeownership and to celebrate our 35^th anniversary, donate $35 or more and receive this limited-edition handmade commemorative keepsake, while supplies last.

This one-of-a-kind keepsake is 100% made in the USA from solid brass and finished with 24k gold.

Donate online to receive your keepsake by mail, or make your donation in person at the Morris Habitat for Humanity Restore register.

Your gift will help fuel the fight for safe, decent, and affordable housing right here in Morris County.

Everyone deserves a decent place to live.

On World Habitat Day, the first Monday of October, Habitat for Humanity joins the United Nations and organizations around the world in raising awareness, educating, and mobilizing individuals and communities to take action on the current global housing crisis.

A decent place to live can remove barriers to opportunity, health and success that might have been part of a family’s life for years, if not generations. Through shelter, we empower.

Lack of access to land is often at the heart of inadequate housing.

To build a shelter and make it a home, a family needs to know they have rights and won’t be evicted. Ensuring access to land — meaning the laws about who owns and has rights to land — is one of the top priorities for Habitat for Humanity. Removing current barriers to access would benefit millions of people around the world. Improvements would include greater gender equality, increased disaster resilience and decreased slum conditions. Improving access to land can increase economic growth, address inequalities and reduce poverty.

We invite you to support our efforts in these ways.

With your help, we can improve lives and communities — at home and around the globe.

• Pray for shelter.
• Learn how you can take action in the United States through our Cost of Home advocacy campaign.
• Advocate for improved access to land for shelter through the Solid Ground global advocacy campaign.
• Take action for housing advocacy by following the tips on our Advocacy page.
• Make a donation to the work of Morris Habitat for Humanity.
• Organize a team build day for a group of volunteers.
• Visit the Morris Habitat ReStore to shop, donate or volunteer. Your support helps Morris Habitat accomplish its mission in your community.
• Spread the word about the need for shelter on your social media network using the hashtag #WorldHabitatDay, and invite your followers and friends to find out more about Habitat and World Habitat Day.

Our trip to Macedonia! (virtually, of course!!)

In May 2020, Morris Habitat hosted a Habitat Global Village Trip luncheon to Veles, Macedonia, over Zoom. Thirty trailblazers connected virtually to explore Macedonian culture, food, drink and people, while learning about families in need of safe housing in Macedonia.

Participants prepared with recipes to make for the meal, including a Veles’ specialty, pita pastrmajlija; an Academy Award-winning movie; and music to enjoy during the virtual trip. Gift bags provided a bottle of 2012 Barrique Cabernet Sauvignon, a quality dry red wine from the Veles wine region, and a jar of Ajvar, the national sauce, made of sweet red peppers.

Throughout the luncheon, as the virtual travelers enjoyed an authentic Macedonian spread and local wine, the moderators guided everyone through the visit. The vibrant discussion and taste of Macedonia left all full of knowledge and full of authentic Macedonian flavors.

Rilind Jegeni, Volunteer Coordinator of Habitat for Humanity Macedonia, shared the country’s history and described the need for safe, decent, and affordable housing. He also illustrated ‘a day in the life’ of a Macedonian family.

Other guides were Atanas and Hristina Nakev (members of Morris Habitat’s Leadership Council), Rehana Flessner (Morris Habitat’s Global Village leader), and Blair Schleicher Wilson (Morris Habitat’s CEO).

Morris Habitat Mourns Passing of Friend Donald H. Kuhn

Morris Habitat lost a dear friend in late March with the passing of Donald H. Kuhn.

“Don was our own Renaissance man, a mentor, supporter and friend,” said Morris Habitat CEO Blair Schleicher Wilson. “He was someone we could always count on for advice and guidance.”

Don’s commitment to Morris Habitat for Humanity started in 1999 when he worked on a home under construction. Bitten by the Habitat “bug,” he built for several years, joined the Board of Directors in 2002 and served as president of the Board of Directors in 2006.

Morris Habitat is blessed to have many thousands of volunteers help us each year. And we certainly could not exist without their time and talent.  However, every now and then a person comes through our doors just when we need him or her. Sometimes we call them an angel, but with Don Kuhn, we called him our Renaissance Man.

Don Kuhn came to Morris Habitat at a critical juncture in our history—a time when we were asking ourselves how we could exponentially grow our homebuilding program to serve the urgent demand for safe, decent and affordable homes in a county with high land values, lots of zoning regulations and strict environmental laws.

It was a challenge not for the faint of heart, and it was Don, The Renaissance Man, a multi-talented, multi-faceted person who helped to position our affiliate to be able to make that leap from building one house a year to the 10 to 15 homes a year we are currently building.

Don led the board transition to a governance body; hired the current CEO in 2004; spearheaded the founding of our ReStore in 2007; raised thousands of dollars for our affiliate by painting artist-quality works; with his wife, Teeny, baked “Cake Boss” type wedding cakes; and, to keep fit, swam regularly at the YMCA.  All the while being a great dad and a wonderful husband to his cherished wife, Teeny.  And that is just the short list of his activities we know about.

Why did we call him Renaissance Man? Certainly because his multi-talents helped us to reach our homebuilding goals; however, it’s also because we were inspired by his profound concern for the community, his vigor envious to those half his age, his willingness to help where ever and whenever, and his delightfully optimistic attitude about life—all of which modeled the way for those of us contemplating the retirement lane of life.

Don was such a vital part of Morris Habitat’s success that we established the Donald H. Kuhn Inspiration Award in 2017—given annually at our Hearts & Hammers Gala—to honor volunteers who exemplify his spirit, dedication and compassion.

It is both an honor and a privilege to have known a man who was a role model of note, a man of distinction, our own Renaissance Man—Donald H. Kuhn.  Don leaves behind his wife, Teeny, six children, 11 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren. We will miss him terribly.

In honor of Don’s passion and commitment to Morris Habitat, we are establishing the Donald H. Kuhn Legacy Fund. For information, please contact Christopher Palazzi, Chief Development Officer, Christopher.palazzi@morrishabitat.org.

Business suits and sequined gowns replaced hard hats and work gloves as more than 500 converged on the Meadow Wood Manor on Route 10 on Saturday night to dine, dance, and take their chances on silent auction items at Morris Habitat for Humanity’s 15th annual Hearts & Hammers Gala in Randolph Township.