Karson & Hazel’s HOME DEDICATION
Friday, March 28, 2025
CAMDEN, NJ (March 28, 2025) Habitat for Humanity of South Central New Jersey has celebrated the completion of a brand-new home in Camden, NJ in partnership with Michaels
Corporation. During the Home Dedication Ceremony Habitat welcomed Karson and his daughter Hazel, currently Somerdale residents, to their new living space where members of the community joined for home tours, treats, and speakers honoring his achievement of home ownership. Assemblyman Spearman of the 5th Legislative District, Camden County Commissioner Jeff Nash, Camden City Mayor Vic Carstarphen, and councilman Arthur Barclay were all on-hand bringing congratulations and well wishes.
Habitat Home Dedications are unique, emotional experiences marking the completion of a new home, honoring individuals and families as they become homeowners. Habitat staff, board members, volunteers, community partners, and local officials come together to recognize the hard work and dedication the family, volunteers, donors and other supporters have put into the process, while presenting the proud owners with keys to their home.
Planning for this new Camden home began when Habitat purchased the building site from a private owner who had originally sought to develop and resell the property but was unable to do so. The property had fallen into disrepair after a decade of vacancy and misuse. Drug users, dealers, and the unhoused gathered there creating an undesirable and hazardous impact on the surrounding neighborhood’s safety and quality of life.
After Habitat purchased and reclaimed the property, Michaels Corporation stepped up to donate the materials and labor necessary to completely renovate the home, along with an adjacent unit for occupancy. Major support for the project was also provided by Wells Fargo, who during the construction phase co-hosted a day long “Rock the Block” event where area residents worked side-by-side with Habitat volunteers and staff building strong community connections while repairing and enhancing their home fronts. 
Located in the vibrant Lanning Square neighborhood of Camden, Karson’s bright, newly renovated home offers proximity to local schools, medical care, and major roadways. The sun-filled 2-story unit features 2 bedrooms, heat/air units, a modern bathroom, a kitchen complete with refrigerator, dishwasher and stove, a washer/dryer, and an enclosed backyard. Nearby, Habitat is hard at work on other affordable properties in the area which will soon be ready to welcome more families. All Habitat partner families purchase houses with thirty-year mortgages with payments at are no more than 30% of their household incomes.
15 volunteers contributed 116 hours of labor on the work site. Like all Habitat homeowners, Karson put in many hours of sweat equity, working directly on the build and learning the financial skills to successfully obtain an affordable mortgage and purchase a home.
Standing with his daughter and family at the dedication, proud new homeowner Karson said, “I know a lot of people worked hard to build this home, and I’m happy we’re a part of it. I
applied for a home with Habitat for Humanity because I want to make my daughter proud and give her a room of her own and space to grow. It means everything to me. I hope we can help someone else like this someday too.”
Habitat SCNJ’s CEO, Lori Leonard said, “With hundreds of hours of hard work, dedication, and learning, another local family has made their dreams a reality. From finance classes and homeowner preparation seminars, to painting walls and cutting trim on their homes, their journey with Habitat for Humanity is a story of resilience and strength. This new home is more than a structure; it’s a sanctuary of safety, stability, and shelter – built with love and hope. We are happy to celebrate with Karson and his family as he crosses the threshold to a new beginning.”