Through Housing Stability & Homeownership, PARTNER supports residents in place by preserving existing housing, creating pathways to homeownership, and reinvesting in vacant and underutilized properties. This work is delivered through long-term partnerships and project-based initiatives within the Gateway Neighborhood.

99 & 101 Pearl Place

Completed: October 2025
Two new single-family homes were built on previously vacant lots, expanding homeownership and strengthening long-term neighborhood stability.
Learn more → https://www.morrishabitat.org/past-events-old/dedication-pearlplace10-15-25

Inslee & Garretson Homes – Family Success Story

Building Hope, Building Homes

The Delossantos and Velez-Camacho families partnered with Greater Middlesex Habitat for Humanity to build their adjacent homes on Inslee Street and Garretson Avenue, committing time, labor, and perseverance to achieve homeownership. Through Habitat’s model, both families completed required sweat equity and purchased their homes with affordable mortgages, reflecting a shared investment in their futures and their neighborhood.

In 2023, the families received an unexpected surprise when NBC’s George to the Rescue collaborated with Habitat to complete the interiors of both homes. While the renovations added comfort and warmth, the foundation of the project was already in place through the families’ dedication and months of hands-on work alongside volunteers.

When the completed homes were revealed, members of both families expressed disbelief and pride as they stepped into spaces that would become permanent homes for their children and loved ones. For the Delossantos and Velez-Camacho families, homeownership represented stability, dignity, and the opportunity to build lasting memories in a neighborhood they helped shape.

This project highlighted the importance of pairing affordable housing development with community partnership, demonstrating how families, nonprofits, and volunteers can work together to create long-term opportunity.

Completed: 2023

Watch the Inslee & Garretson home reveal → → https://www.morrishabitat.org/?viba_portfolio=inslee-street-garretson-avenue

Laurie Street Home – Success Story

Applications for the Laurie Street home were offered to moderate-income residents living in rental properties operated by the Perth Amboy Housing Authority. Noris Mercado was selected as the homeowner and now lives in the home with her 16-year-old daughter, 14-year-old son, and grandson.

For Noris, homeownership represented more than a new house. Her parents were never able to own a home, and she wanted to set a different example for her children. Working as a production technician manufacturing hearing aids, Noris achieved a long-held dream and established long-term stability for her family.

Completed: 2021

Learn more → https://www.morrishabitat.org/?viba_portfolio=lawrie-street-2

Cortlandt Street Home – Success Story

Carlos Gonzalez, a U.S. Army veteran, became a homeowner through the Habitat for Humanity Home for a Hero program after being selected in a veteran-specific lottery in early 2019. His selection, drawn as number three, carried personal meaning for Carlos and marked the beginning of a new chapter rooted in stability and opportunity.

For Carlos, homeownership represented far more than a physical structure. As a veteran, access to stable, affordable housing provided the foundation to move forward with confidence and independence. The completion of the Cortlandt Street home offered a fresh start and honored his service through a permanent place to call home.

The Cortlandt Street project reflects the power of partnerships between Habitat for Humanity, PARTNER, and the City of Perth Amboy to deliver meaningful, life-changing outcomes. By prioritizing veterans through targeted homeownership opportunities, this project reinforced the shared commitment to housing stability, dignity, and long-term community well-being.

Completed: 2020

Learn More → https://www.morrishabitat.org/?viba_portfolio=cortlandt-street