In 1986, several concerned Gloucester County residents from church and community organizations recognized the need to serve low-income families by building affordable housing. Gloucester County Habitat for Humanity (GCHFH) was founded to meet that need. Since then, fifteen houses have been built or rehabilitated in communities throughout Gloucester County to include Glassboro, Woodbury, Pitman, Clayton and Paulsboro. The houses were built with an all volunteer effort. No government funding was utilized.

In 2005, GCHFH began a major subdivision of twelve single-family houses in Clayton. This is the largest single Habitat project in the Northeast U.S. Three of the houses are built and currently occupied by low-income families.

In the summer of 2008, GCHFH opened ReStore. ReStore accepts and sells good quality, donated items such as furniture, appliances, home furnishings/ fixtures and building materials. Items will be sold at deep discount. Net proceeds will help GCHFH in meeting its mission in building affordable housing.

The GCHFH mission of building safe, decent and affordable housing has been and will remain a formidable challenge. New Jersey ranks as one of the least affordable States in the U.S. for housing relative to income. It is through partnerships with community, business and government organizations that GCHFH will face the challenge ahead. It is with the support and kind consideration of the individual Gloucester County resident that the challenge will be met. After all, having a decent place to live is nothing less than simple, human dignity.