Military Builds Affordable Housing In Jamaica For Fleet Week

JAMAICA, QUEENS -- Dozens of active marines, sailors and coastguards got to work on much-needed affordable housing in Jamaica after docking their boats in New York City for the week.

Habitat for Humanity NYC hosted its sixth annual Fleet Week build this week, sending out more than 60 members of the U.S. Navy, Marine Corp or Coast Guard to renovate vacant, decrepit structures at 115-46 98th St. into two single-family homes, a spokeswoman for the nonprofit said.

The homes were among a cluster of 20 Queens single-family houses that Habitat NYC plans to gut and transform after buying them for just $1 from the NYC Housing Authority.

They will be sold to low-income families at affordable rates on a case-by-case basis depending on the family's income, ability to pay for the home and time spent volunteering with Habitat NYC, the spokeswoman said.

Habitat NYC couldn't say for sure when the homes would be finished, claiming construction timelines varied from house to house. Families have already been chosen for the cluster of homes but have not yet been assigned to a specific one, the spokeswoman said.

"Habitat homebuyers are families who have a stable income and are doing everything right, but need a hand up - not a hand out," the spokeswoman said. "These are often people like teachers, public transit workers, police officers and single mothers."

Karen Haycox, CEO of Habitat NYC said sea service members have joined their volunteers and staff for community service projects for the last six years during Fleet Week.

"During Fleet Week, we all work towards one mission – to provide hard-working families with a safe, decent and affordable home," Haycox said.

Roughly another 30 military men and woman joined Habitat NYC on another community service project on Thursday at the Brownsville Senior Center in Brooklyn, where volunteers spent the day priming and painting the building's walls and ceilings.

"Habitat NYC engages New Yorkers in service to better our communities, and no one knows the meaning of service better than the committed members of our military,” Haycox said.

(Lead photos courtesy of Habitat NYC)