ORANGE PARK – Clay County Habitat for Humanity is working hard to live up to the mission statement of its parent organization. And in the process, the organization is providing a second chance to make a lasting impression with its Habitat ReStores.

The nonprofit that builds and renovates existing homes for needy families to become self-reliant who are willing to make a nominal down payment, show an interest in offsetting costs with sweat equity and show an ability to repay an interest-free mortgage.

To help pay for the program, Habitat also operates stores to repurpose slightly used furniture and household goods at a fraction of the retail price.

“There are a lot of moving parts for the construction of a Habitat house. These homes are purchased with a minimum down payment and sweat equity hours,” said Habitat Executive Director Carolyn Edwards. “Then the homeowner pays an interest-free mortgage for up to 30 years.”

Edwards said Habitat still has to pay for materials, although they often come at a discount rate. That’s why the money earned at ReStores is so important.

“Vendors provide discounts on materials, and volunteers help with construction,” she said. “But materials still must be purchased to build the house, and vendors have to be paid, so we have to raise that money.

“One revenue resource for us is the Habitat ReStore. We receive donations of new and gently used merchandise then sell it to get revenue for construction. This also keeps a lot of things out of our landfills.”

In addition to appliances, furniture and household goods, ReStore also repurposes leftover building materials, including kitchen cabinets, sinks, toilets, bathtubs, doors, windows, flooring, unused lumber, lighting fixtures, fencing, bricks and concrete blocks.

Established in Clay County in 1977, Habitat has served more than 670 men, women, and children through the building of 176 homes in Orange Park, Middleburg, Penney Farms and Keystone Heights. In the city of Green Cove Springs alone, 111 homes have been built, with four of them having been completed since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Two homes are also currently under construction in Orange Park.

“I can’t remember a time when having a home is more critical than now,” Edwards said. “With this COVID-19 pandemic and the quarantines and other uncertainties that go along with it, everybody had to be at home. I can only imagine how difficult this time was for those living in substandard housing. Homes with leaky roofs, walls caving in, plumbing, and electrical issues, were not the havens the rest of us call home. That’s the latest reason why there is a need for decent, affordable housing and Clay County Habitat.”