Beaches Habitat for Humanity is founded by a group of volunteers with the mission of building simple, decent affordable housing in the Jacksonville beaches. Our first home is located on Francis Avenue, just up the road from our current office. Founding member Archie Jenkins says, “It was definitely slow going at first – pour the slab, take some time off to raise money, build some walls, fundraise some more…” 

Beaches Habitat’s first home is completed for Brandon and Phyllis Terrell. The occasion is celebrated with what has become a traditional home dedication. The ceremony typically features blessings from religious leaders close to the new homeowners, an inspirational song, comments from Beaches Habitat staff and comments from the home sponsor.

Long-time supporters Miyuki and Herb Scheidel announce their endowment of a $1.2 million scholarship fund for the children of Beaches Habitat homeowners. In turn, the state of Florida matched their contribution with $800,000, affording every child of a Beaches Habitat homeowner the opportunity to attend the University of North Florida at no cost.

Beaches Habitat wins the Jimmy Carter Award for building the most homes per capita in the southeast region of the United States (Florida, Georgia, Alabama and Puerto Rico). Though the award is no longer given, Beaches Habitat continues to have a significant impact on the Jacksonville Beaches community

Beaches Habitat expands beyond new home construction for the first time, completing it's first owner occupied repair in South Jacksonville Beach. In the years since, Beaches Habitat has continued to complete owner occupied repairs as well as full rehabs when resources allow.

Beaches Habitat completes construction of its first subdivision, Cabo Blanco. A Mayport neighborhood of 16 homes, Cabo Blanco is also the site of Beaches Habitat’s first duplex.

Beaches Habitat is awarded the 2004 Affiliate of the Year in the Southeast Region. The honor is given to local Habitat organizations for increasing capacity in production, operations and programs.

Ponte Vedra Beach resident Jane Wright decides to bring the national Women Build program to the Jacksonville Beaches. The program allows women to work in home construction in a more comfortable, all-female environment. In fall 2009, the Women Build group began construction on their ninth and tenth homes in the Jacksonville Beaches.

Beaches Habitat dedicates a new Education addition thanks to funding from Miyuki and Herb Scheidel. Built by Habitat volunteers and designed by an AmeriCorps member, the Education wing features a computer lab, meeting room, office, and four tutoring spaces. The area is now used by the Boys and Girls Club of Northeast Florida for an after-school program in partnership with the City of Atlantic Beach.

Beaches Habitat's education program is selected for the Clarence Jordan Award for creativity and innovation in their affiliate operations. The award honors the legacy of Clarence Jordan, the founder of Koinonia Farm, a religious community in southwest Georgia, where the idea for Habitat for Humanity was born. Award recipients are selected by affiliate voting.

Beaches Habitat celebrates its 200^th and 201^st homes in the Jacksonville Beaches with a traditional house dedication as well as a “History in the Making” themed Beach Bash event. “The ‘History in the Making’ theme was a logical choice for our annual event when you consider the significance of the occasion – having built 200 homes in a community of 50,000 is a feat unparalleled in Habitat affiliates throughout the nation,” said then-Executive Director Ralph Marcello.

Thanks largely to the generosity of Nancy McDonald, Beaches Habitat relocates its administrative to a newly renovated office space.  The Francis Avenue office, owned by the City of Atlantic Beach, undergoes major renovation to adapt the space for education programs.

Beaches Habitat begins construction on a town home community on Mayport Road. Formerly the site of the Palms Apartments, the property was vacant and blighted from the time the buildings were condemned in 2005.

Beaches Habitat celebrates the completion of the 300th new home at a dedication ceremony in OceanGate. Twelve homes were dedicated that afternoon, bringing the number of homes in OceanGate to 33 completed.

Beaches Habitat is selected as an Affiliate of Distinction. The Affiliates of Distinction program was a two year formal program for affiliates that meet or exceed a number of key indicator best practice standards and represent a broad spectrum of our affiliate network — the “best of the best.” The distinction, given on a biennial basis, was established in 2013 to collect, showcase, and recognize the exemplary efforts of Habitat affiliates.

Beaches Habitat announces the addition of a Senior Home Repair program to it's services. The repair program, for homeowners age 60 and older, focuses on addressing health, safety and accessibility concerns so that the owner(s) can remain in their homes as long as possible. Repairs and modifications can include a range of improvements from siding repair and repainting to overhauls of electrical, plumbing and HVAC systems.

Because of the large population of Veterans in the nearby communities, Beaches Habitat announces the expansion of the Home Repair program to include Veteran households. Like the Senior Home Repair Program, the Veteran Home Repair Program addresses health, safety and accessibility concerns in homes owned and occupied by former U.S. service members.