Boynton Beach CRA Model Block Project Completed and Celebrated; Included Groundbreaking of Two New Habitat Homes
Boca Raton, FL — The Boynton Beach Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) in partnership with the City of Boynton Beach, and Habitat for Humanity of South Palm Beach County (HFHSPBC) cut the ribbon on the completion of the Model Block project at NW 11th Avenue and broke ground on two new Habitat single-family homes to be built on the new street.
On hand for the open-to-the-public celebration were officials from the Boynton Beach CRA and the City of Boynton Beach along with HFHSPBC leadership, the two presenting Habitat presenting home sponsors, Sklar Furnishings and Publix Supermarket Charities, and the Habitat Future Homebuyers, Gretta Ceasar and Reginald Moss.
The Model Block Project Collaboration
The Boynton Beach CRA and the City of Boynton Beach collaborated on the land acquisition, for the construction of for-sale single-family homes and roadway improvements for the Model Block project since 2012. Located within the Heart of Boynton District and the Poinciana Gardens neighborhood, between NW 10th and NW 11th Avenues, the Model Block project consists of the development of 16 new single-family homes, seven (7) of which have been completed, and infrastructure improvements within the NW 11th Avenue right-of-way. The total cost of the NW 11th Avenue project is approximately $475,000.
HFHSPBC received a $75,000 grant from the Boynton Beach CRA to help fund the 501(c) (3) organization’s comprehensive Increasing the Quality of Life Program, designed to create new and maintain existing affordable housing. HFHSPBC will also provide educational opportunities to prospective homeowners and community residents within the CRA area. Additionally, through its Project Uplift Program, HFHSPBC will build five new and affordable three-bedroom, two-bath homes within the CRA area for which the nonprofit will provide zero-interest mortgages to qualified, hard-working, low-income future Habitat Homebuyers. Supporting the belief that affordable housing plays a critical role in strong and stable communities, the affiliate of the global nonprofit organization, Habitat for Humanity International, provides a transformational “hand-up, never a hand-out” by bringing municipalities and their CRAs, corporate partners and people together to build homes, community, and hope in South Palm Beach County. To fulfill its mission, HFHSPBC depends upon volunteer labor and tax-deductible donations of money, materials, services and property.
“What an exciting, meaningful morning celebrating Habitat’s relationship with the Boynton Beach CRA and the City of Boynton Beach that will bring the five Habitat single-family homes to this Model Block initiative,” noted HFHSPBC President & CEO Randy Nobles. “This collaboration along with the generosity of the presenting home sponsors Sklar Furnishings and Publix Supermarket Charities for our first two homes of five to be built will impact each Homebuyer Family and the Boynton Beach community for generations to come.”
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Habitat Groundbreaking Demonstrates
New “Cost of Home” Advocacy Campaign in Action
Because South Palm Beach County is one of the most costly areas in the country, particularly to rent a safe, decent apartment or home, Habitat for Humanity of South Palm Beach County (HFHSPBC) has joined Habitat affiliates across the country in launching a new national advocacy campaign aimed at improving home affordability for 10 million people in the U.S. over the next five years. Marking significant growth in Habitat’s commitment to ensuring that everyone has a safe and decent place to call home, the Cost of Home campaign (habitat.org/costofhome) seeks to identify and improve policies and systems through coordinated advocacy efforts at the local, state and federal levels.
Locally, HFHSPBC’s Cost of Home role focuses on improving housing affordability across the housing continuum in Boynton Beach, Delray Beach and Boca Raton in four specific policy areas: increasing supply and preservation of affordable homes, equitably increasing access to credit, optimizing land use for affordable homes, and ensuring access communities of opportunity.
“Forging successful municipalities and CRA relationships and public-private collaborations for groundbreakings, such as today, on new affordable homes to be built, then financed by HFHSPBC’s zero-interest mortgage program for hard working, low income Habitat future homebuyers, demonstrates HFHSPBC’s local Cost of Home initiative “actively at work”, adds HFHSPBC Senior Director of Government and Community Affairs, Mohamed Abdalla, who is leading the local initiative.
For more information on HFHSPBC, its Future Homebuyer Program and Cost of Home initiative, visit www.habitatsouthpalmbeach.org or call (561) 819-6070.
HABITAT SPBC HOMEBUYER STORIES: New Homes to be Built on Model Block
The Moss Family
Reginald Moss is a native of Delray Beach, Florida. Reginald’s parents separated when he was eight years old and he lived most of his childhood with his paternal grandmother. After graduating from Atlantic Community High School, Reginald moved in with his maternal grandparents where his two chronically ill aunts were also living. Reginald took on the responsibility of assisting to care for them until they passed away. He learned early in life that caring for family is a labor of love. Having a strained income and the added weight of a failing relationship, Reginald could not pursue his dreams of purchasing his own home as a young adult. Reginald was forced to continue to reside in his grandparents’ home while taking on the responsibility of fatherhood.
Reginald is now a proud father of 5 children: Reginald Jr., Shanikque, Breanna, Ryan and the youngest Reagan, whom currently lives with him now. Reginald’s passion for helping people is not only evident in the way he serves his family, but also members of his community. For the past 18 years, Reginald has worked in Nutritional Services at Delray Medical Center. It was there that Reginald befriended a Habitat homeowner who introduced him to the program and explained how Habitat for Humanity works with aspiring first time homeowners while guiding them to a more financially stable life. Ready and eager to stand on his own again, Reginald applied for the program and was denied due to credit issues. For the next year, Reginald dedicated himself to budgeting and working hard to improve his finances, while being a dedicated father to all of his children. When the next application cycle opened, he reapplied and was accepted!
Reginald is committed to paying off his mortgage and owning a home to pass on to his children. He is excited about mowing his own lawn and taking on future home repairs. Reginald is proud to set an example to family and friends that regardless of the curve balls life throws at you, you can reach your goals. Hard work, dedication, determination and faith will lead you to amazing opportunities. Reginald Moss is truly a well deserving Habitat homeowner.
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The Caesar Family
At the age of 14, Gretta Ceasar moved from Alabama to Delray Beach when her parents divorced. Gretta and her six siblings lived with her uncle, while her mother worked tirelessly to provide for her family. Gretta often took on the responsibility of helping her mother clean homes after school to contribute financially. Eventually they saved enough money to purchase a home. Gretta learned early in life the importance of making sacrifices for her family. Upon graduating from New England Tech with an associate degree in Science, Gretta fell in love. Despite her family’s disapproval, she got married and followed her husband to Florence, Alabama. After facing years of domestic abuse, she found the courage to leave him and return home to her support system.
A few months later, Gretta found out she was pregnant. After a difficult labor, her son Marcus was born with several congenital disorders. The doctors believed Marcus wouldn’t live long but with the continuous help of occupational and speech therapy he was able to work through his disabilities.
In April of 2015, Gretta was diagnosed with stage three Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. After eight months of extensive treatment, the doctors found more cancer. Gretta was ready to give up but when the tests eventually came back benign, she chose to see this as God giving her another chance. Gretta had a new outlook on life and decided to volunteer at a local voting poll. Another volunteer encouraged her to apply for a Habitat home; however, Gretta doubted she would ever be accepted into the program. Reluctantly she filled out an application and to her surprise she was invited to the future homeowner orientation.
Gretta has worked for Palm Tran for nearly six years and has been saving for a home and providing for her son. Through this venture, Gretta has built a loving community of Habitat homeowners that continue to encourage her along the way. She uses her own experiences to encourage others and she is proud of her journey. After three years, Gretta is thrilled to finally move out of her mother’s house and give her son a place to call home. On July 14, she welcomed a new grandson, Malik, into their family. What a perfect time to celebrate a new addition to Gretta’s family!
