Charles Upchurch is a 77-year-old Vietnam War veteran who has recently embarked on the challenge of a lifetime. Upchurch has been raising his 13-year-old grandson, Bobby, since the boy’s mother passed away several years ago. Grandpa has given Grandson as much as he can — love, care, values to live by. And one day, he plans to leave him his home in Atlantic Beach, Florida.
The location is ideal. Walking distance from the Atlantic Ocean and part of a quiet community that is perfect for anyone seeking relaxation and coastal charm. Upchurch bought the home in 1969 and has made a life for his family there. But as Upchurch aged, so did his home. He never wanted to leave his grandson a home in disrepair, but he also did not have money for an expensive restoration.
“I just want a good life for my grandson,” Upchurch said.
Helping to make a better life for others is where Beaches Habitat for Humanity comes in.
Beaches Habitat for Humanity Helps Veterans
There are plenty of high-priced homes in the cities of Atlantic Beach, Neptune Beach and Jacksonville Beach, but there are also many areas in need of improvement. Beaches Habitat was founded in 1990 to help revitalize underserved areas by building homes that were affordable and would make people proud.
The organization initially focused on building homes from the ground up and eventually grew to support these communities through renovation work. Beaches Habitat recently launched a home repair program specifically for veterans like Upchurch. It is a perfect fit for an area that is near Naval Station Mayport and has long been a desirable place for sailors to settle when they get out of the military.
Beaches Habitat, which services the areas of Atlantic Beach, Neptune Beach, Jacksonville Beach and Jacksonville east of Hodges Boulevard, works with veterans who qualify to create an affordable payment plan for necessary repairs. The program is still in its early stages and was recently bolstered by a $20,000 grant from VyStar Foundation. One of the Foundation’s pillars is ensuring military members, veterans and their families receive the social services they need and the recognition they deserve. A safe and secure home is a necessary starting point.
Upchurch’s story, and his desire to create a better life for his grandson, is a shining example of the difference Beaches Habitat makes every day. At his home, there was much work to do. After a full assessment of the property, the Habitat team got to work. They replaced the air conditioning, installed a rain gutter and painted the house’s exterior, providing peace of mind to Upchurch along the way.
The home now looks so good from the road that longtime friends don’t even recognize it.
“One friend from Atlanta came to visit and she passed the house,” Upchurch said. “She said, ‘I know he stays right here, they must have knocked down the house or something.’”
Beaches Habitat’s work isn’t about knocking down — it’s centered on building up. Individuals, families, dreams. Although there’s more work to be done, Upchurch’s home is well on its way to becoming a place where his grandson can live comfortably for years to come.
There are 4,808 veterans living in the beach communities of Duval County, according to the U.S. Census. Of those veterans, 5.4% had an income lower than the poverty line over the previous 12 months. Those, in particular, are the veterans that Beaches Habitat is trying to reach and support.
Chris Rozear is the repairs manager for Beaches Habitat. He stops by from time to time to check on Upchurch and the home. He’s hard at work planning the rest of the repairs and said it can be quite a process to figure out everything that’s wrong with a home that age. For instance, they realized some siding had water damage as they were applying a fresh coat of paint.
“We can’t just paint over rotten wood,” Rozear said. “We had to replace it.”
Rozear and his team never cut corners. They make sure the work is done right. Because they know how much these veterans and other homeowners depend on them.
Helping People Where They Can
As a Habitat for Humanity International affiliate, Beaches Habitat abides by the rules and regulations of the overall organization. But each affiliate has its own independent board of directors and the ability to set its own list of priorities. Plus, they can try new things — like the veterans home repair program — to see what works. It’s an idea they got from another Habitat affiliate.
“That is one of the beautiful things about Habitat for Humanity, they do encourage innovation,” said Sarah Jared, Beaches Habitat’s Chief Operating Officer.
In addition to its veteran program, Beaches Habitat has a home repair program that is open to all seniors. To qualify, the applicant must be at least 60 years old, own their home and reside in the home.
“We thought at first we would mostly be building wheelchair ramps and putting grab bars in bathrooms,” said Grant Specialist Judith Poppell. “We found out the needs were much greater than what we had estimated — and more expensive.”
There are many seniors with leaky roofs and roofs that need to be replaced. At times, Poppell said, residents are forced to decide between fixing roofs or putting groceries on the table.
“If you’ve got a roof that needs a repair or replacement, you lose your homeowners insurance unless you have it fixed,” Poppell said. “So, we’ve helped a lot of people in that regard.”
Affordable Housing at the Beach
In addition to individual success stories, Beaches Habitat has made large-scale improvements to local communities. In 2019, the organization finished building 70 new homes in what is now the OceanGate community, transforming a rundown apartment complex into a collection of colorful townhouses near the intersection of Mayport Road and Atlantic Boulevard.
The next project is Zero Mayport, which will end up being roughly 45 homes on about four acres just off Mayport Road. Beaches Habitat President & CEO Steve Gilbert called it their “dream project” and said they’ll break ground in early 2024. The project is expected to support even more veterans as well as low-wage workers who help the beaches communities flourish.
Finding affordable housing is an issue for many veterans across the country. Nationally, nearly 4 million veterans pay at least 30% of their income toward rent or mortgage, according to Habitat. For more than 1.5 million veterans, that number is at least 50% of their income.
Putting in Sweat Equity in Your Own Home
The small town of Mayport Village is a longtime fishing community near the mouth of the St. Johns River. It’s seen better days, but Beaches Habitat is currently building three homes in the heart of the town to help revitalize the neighborhood.
Just like the repair programs, the Habitat team works hard to come up with a finance plan that fits the homeowner’s budget on new construction. Part of that plan includes “sweat equity” — and Jared said by the time they close on their home, homeowners put in at least 300 hours of manual labor.
“It’s a huge commitment from them,” she said. “They get the opportunity to learn so much about how their house is put together. They get to meet their neighbors, and they really do build a support system.”
Habitat staff members assist with the construction, but volunteers do most of the work. As the walls go up and the interior is built out, volunteers write inspiring messages that will eventually be covered by drywall. Because the homeowners work alongside the Habitat team and volunteers, they see those messages every day – and add a few of their own – while they’re putting in the hard work.
“People are adding love to these houses as they’re being built,” Rozear said.
And like the love a grandfather has for his grandson, it’s one that never fades.
Please visit the Beaches Habitat for Humanity website to learn more about the programs the organization offers.
