HabiJax staff and volunteers work to erect the frame of a new home in October 2024. | HabiJax
Published on January 22, 2025 at 2:24 pm
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HabiJax has merged with its Nassau County affiliate to serve more families across Northeast Florida.
The nonprofits — both Habitat for Humanity affiliates — will have town hall meetings in coming weeks to present the future of the joined agencies.
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Nassau Habitat for Humanity officially merged with Habitat for Humanity of Jacksonville, more widely known as HabiJax, at the start of this year. The new agency will serve low- to moderate-income residents of Nassau, Baker and Duval counties as one consolidated Habitat affiliate.
“Bringing people together to build safe and affordable homes is how we put God’s love into action,” HabiJax President and CEO Monte Walker said in a news release. “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.”
Barnes Moore, president of Nassau’s board of directors, said: “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.”
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Moore will serve on the new organization’s board along with other Nassau County leaders.
History of HabiJax
Habitat for Humanity is a nonprofit agency that builds affordable homes for people in need and also renovates existing houses. In some communities, its agencies build toilets and provide access to safe water, and provide microloans to help families start small businesses.
HabiJax was founded in 1988, when mortgage interest rates were hovering above 10% and the typical down payment exceeded $20,000, the group says states on its website. It was the first Habitat affiliate to surpass 1,000 homes built, then quickly surpassed 2,000 homes built. It has closed on 45 new homes since July 2022, according to its 2024 impact report.
The agency moved to the Jessie Ball duPont Center in 2023.
Nassau Habitat for Humanity began 30 years ago and has built more than 50 homes for clients. Its website states that Fernandina Beach has grown by 19% since 2010 as rents have climbed by more than 82% and the median value of homes increased by 61%.
Baker County has had no Habitat presence but will now be served by the combined Jacksonville-Nassau organization, which will adopt a new name reflecting its broader footprint. That name will be announced after an approval process with Habitat for Humanity International is completed early in 2025.
“We want to ensure that this new name conveys our rootedness in multiple communities — not just Jacksonville — while also avoiding confusion with other local affiliates,” HabiJax spokesperson Kevin Collison said in the news release.
In the meantime, two town hall meetings are slated to discuss the merger and future opportunities for homeownership, volunteering, sponsorship and advocacy in the three counties.
One was already held Jan. 16 in Fernandina Beach. The next will be at 5:30 p.m. Feb. 6 at First Baptist Church of Macclenny on South 6th Street, with a third planned soon in the Yulee area.
An office with local staff will remain in Nassau County, while the administrative office and primary mailing address for the organization is at the Jessie Ball duPont Center, 40 E Adams St. in Jacksonville.
The Beaches Habitat for Humanity office remains to serve the coastal portion of Duval County, while Clay and St. Johns counties have their own affiliates.
