Nassau Habitat Strengthens Capacity Through Merger
Two local nonprofits – both affiliates of Habitat for Humanity – are excited to announce they are joining forces to serve more families across Northeast Florida. On January 1, 2025, Nassau Habitat for Humanity merged with Habitat for Humanity of Jacksonville, more widely known as HabiJax. Together, they now serve low-to-moderate income residents of Nassau, Baker, and Duval counties as one consolidated Habitat affiliate.
Combining resources and talent will enable more affordable homes to be built in each of these three counties. The availability of land and increasing construction costs drove leaders of both organizations to weigh how they might work more closely.
Barnes Moore, President of Nassau Habitat’s Board of Directors explains, “Our number one priority in this partnership is to make sure the growing needs of all the people across our county are met in the years ahead. To be able to call upon the experience, resources and capacity of our partners at HabiJax as we retain our community presence and focus on our neighbors makes this new operating model a unique opportunity that will benefit so many people across the region.” Moore will serve on the new organization’s board alongside other Nassau County leaders.
HabiJax President and CEO Monte Walker says, “Bringing people together to build safe and affordable homes is how we put God’s love into action. Our capacity to help grow the mission in fast-growing Nassau County, coupled with the passion of staff and volunteers already active in that community, will provide more opportunities to residents there in need of an affordable place to live.”
The organization will also adopt a new name reflecting its broader footprint in the new year. This new name will be announced after an approval process with Habitat for Humanity International is completed early in 2025.
Town Hall meetings are scheduled so the community can hear more about this merger and discuss opportunities for homeownership, volunteering, sponsorship and advocacy in their area.
- Thursday, January 16, at 5:30 p.m. at Trinity United Methodist Church, 715 Ash Street in Fernandina Beach
- Thursday, February 6, at 5:30 p.m. at First Baptist Church of Macclenny, 372 S 6th Street in Macclenny
- A third Town Hall is being planned for the Yulee area (details are still pending)
A fully dedicated local office and local staff will be maintained in Nassau County at the Peck Center, while the administrative office and primary mailing address for the organization will be in the Jessie Ball duPont Center at 40 E Adams Street, Suite 200, in Jacksonville.
Although each of the three counties served by the combined organization is unique, all have experienced dramatic increases in monthly rental costs and home prices. US Census data shows the population of Fernandina Beach has grown by 19 percent since 2010. However, rents have climbed sharply, by more than 82 percent in the same time frame. Meanwhile, in the census county division of Jacksonville in which HabiJax has historically built, the median value of homes increased by 61 percent since 2010. This has created a challenging environment for the top nonprofit homebuilders in each county – one they are now prepared to tackle together.
