As the team at Usaj Realty prepares for the Habitat for Humanity annual build day tomorrow, it’s been a great time to reflect on why Usaj Realty chose to partner with Habitat for Humanity of Metro Denver. Participating in Habitat builds in her hometown of Houston, Jenny Usaj came to Denver with a sense of the wonderful work the organization does. Months after Usaj Realty was founded, Jenny began to see an intersection of the real estate industry’s services and the need for affordable housing in the city.
Moments of witnessing homelessness juxtaposed with the excitement of folks buying their first home really struck a chord and she began to intertwine the goals of the business with a commitment that would positively benefit the community. Partnering with not only Habitat for Humanity but also with the Downtown Denver Partnership, Usaj Realty started intentional and organized efforts to assist those who need affordable housing and also focus on changing city policy in regard to affordable housing.
Later that year, Jenny spent the day building homes next to hardworking families who will move into the homes. Usaj Realty has been building, fundraising by throwing quarterly happy hour events, encouraging employees and brokers to build, donating an annual $2,500, and organizing team build ever since. Jenny has served on the Women’s Build Committee since 2013, helping to plan, organize, and recruit volunteers for the annual Women’s Build.
The Usajs chose Habitat because the organization not only builds quality housing for families who would otherwise not be able to afford to purchase their own home; but because they also create sustainable, safe, and admirable communities. Future homeowners work alongside volunteers building energy-efficient single-family, duplex, and townhouses. The homes are not only affordable to purchase (with mortgages capped at approximately 25 percent of the buyer’s income), but also affordable to maintain. It is truly an amazing program to help people achieve the American dream in a creative way! Usaj Realty supports this mission and genuinely believes that everyone should have a place to call home.
Usaj Realty’s goal in partnering with Habitat is to help spread awareness about Habitat’s programs and homeownership opportunities. The team at Usaj firmly stands behind the purpose and mission of Habitat for Humanity and believes homeownership is a solution to ending poverty. Providing stable home environments for those who do not qualify for traditional lending is the key to creating and maintaining a thriving economy and diverse community.
