Dear Friends of Beaches Habitat,

2023 was another exciting year!

It is a blessing to have so many dedicated volunteers and generous donors willing to partner with local families to build safe, affordable housing in our service area. Thank you for your role in steering us on this mission.

Under the guidance of our excellent construction team, volunteers have finished construction on two new homes in Mayport Village, with the third quickly approaching completion. We are grateful for incredible partnerships through the Women Build, CEO Build, and Faith Build programs that have made it possible for three local families to purchase a home they can afford.

In 2023, we also launched a Veteran Repair program. This was an expansion of a Senior Repair program, offering services for older homeowners. We recently dedicated the first Veteran Repair project, a whole home rehabilitation for an Army Veteran, and we look forward to providing services to more senior and Veteran homeowners in our area.

As we’ve been busy building and repairing homes, we’ve also been planning for the future. Construction recently began on a fourth site in Mayport Village that will get a boost on May 10th as the location of the 5th annual CEO Build. The team has also been working hard, preparing to break ground for our next neighborhood. A nearly 4-acre parcel on Mayport Road will become a new community for 44 qualified homebuyers over the next several years.

Beaches Habitat is grateful for your partnership, whether you are new to us or have been a part of our organization for many years. So many of you responded with enthusiasm to our annual Christmas appeal. We were encouraged to receive gifts from many first-time donors who have seen the growing need for affordable housing in our area. Thank you for your contributions, and thank you to the family of Sandy Forsyth, founder of Aqua East Surf Shop, for providing a matching gift of $20,000 during the appeal.

As we prepare for another year of hard work and partnership, I am also reflecting on the good work that your generosity has helped make possible. Please enjoy a small glimpse into your impact on the local community through the stories that follow. Thank you for trusting us to be stewards of your time, talent, and treasure.

With gratitude,

Steve Gilbert
President & CEO