Habitat for Humanity Merges with Jax

Nassau Habitat for Humanity has merged with Habitat for Humanity of Jacksonville (Habijax) to form a new organization to likely be called Northeast Florida Habitat for Humanity. Together, they now serve low-to-moderate-income residents of Nassau, Baker, and Duval counties as one consolidated Habitat affiliate.

Habitat officials said that combining the resources and talent of both groups, would enable more affordable homes to be built in each of these three counties. The land availability and increasing construction costs were the catalysts for leaders of both organizations to leverage how they might work more closely.

"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," Barnes Moore, President of Nassau Habitat's Board of Director 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."

Moore will serve on the new organization's board along with other Nassau County Leaders.

"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," said HabiJax President and CEO Monte Walker.

Nassau Habitat for Humanity began building homes in 1993. As of 2025, Nassau Habitat completed its 54th home.  Homes are built for families meeting the income eligibility requirements and demonstrate a need for safe, affordable housing. Donations, grants, and fundraising activities help finance construction. Volunteer labor is also an essential element to Habitat's mission, helping to keep costs down. The homes are sold according to income levels of qualified families through an interest-free mortgage issued by N.H.F.H. 

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 in early 2025.

"We want to ensure that this new name coveys our rootedness in multiple communities - not just Jacksonville - while avoiding confusion with other local affiliates," said Communications Director Kevin Collison of HabiJax. 

Beaches Habitat for Humanity continues to serve the coastal portion of Duval County, while the residents of Clay and St. Johns counties are each served by their own affiliates. Baker County has had no Habitat presence but will now be served by the combined Jacksonville-Nassau organization. Construction permits were recently issued in Macclenny , where several new homes will be built.

The new service area for Habitat for Humanity merged groups

A  town hall meeting is scheduled for February 6 at 5:30 p.m. at First Baptist Church of Macclenny, 372 S Sixth Street, Macclenny, so the community can hear more about this merger and discuss opportunities for homeownership, volunteering, sponsorship, and advocacy in their area. 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, while the administrative office and primary mailing address for the organization is now 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. U.S. census data shows the population of Fernandina Beach has grown by 19% since 2010. However, rents have climbed sharply, by more than 82% 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% since 2010. This increase has created a challenging environment for the nonprofit homebuilders in each county - one they are now prepared to tackle together.

According to Regina Duncan with the Nassau County Chamber of Commerce, “The lack of available housing for essential workers has been evident for a while, and it is a problem that is only getting worse, not better.” The most recent American Community Survey data also shows that among Nassau County households earning between $50,000 and $75,000 and also having a mortgage, 64% are cost-burdened — meaning more than 30% of their income goes to housing costs.