Since 1997, the Giants have worked to surprise first-time homeowners — including many single-parent moms — with everything they need to fully furnish their new residence for a fresh start.
This Christmas, Newark’s own Haneefah Warren was selected as the Newark Land Bank Section 8 Homeowner and received a fully furnished home courtesy of Bob’s Discount Furniture as part of the Giants ‘Home for the Holidays’ program.
“I want to thank the New York Giants,” Warren said this month at a ribbon-cutting inside her new home. “I want to thank Bob’s Furniture. I want to thank Invest in Newark. I want to thank the City of Newark. I want to thank NACA. I want to thank everybody here that partook in this journey, who were fighting for me behind the scenes but not knowing that I had the higher power above fighting through them with me. It all was a huge journey.”
Warren’s gratitude poured out on Dec. 16 when former Giants captain Jonathan Casillas and executives from Bob’s, Invest Newark, the City of Newark and Newark Land Bank welcomed Warren and her two teenage children “home” to see all the new furnishings she selected from Bob’s Discount Furniture during a surprise shopping trip.
“Today is a great day,” said Casillas, who hails originally from Jersey City. “The Giants partnered with Bob’s Furniture to put Haneefah Warren in this house right here in Newark, where she’s from, her and her two kids. And look around: The house is beautiful, the furniture is A-1 and no one deserves it more. She’s the happiest, most energetic person I’ve met in a very long time. And she’s very grateful for this.”
Casillas said Warren’s blessing even manifested itself in a way that it felt meant to be.
“Haneefah’s mom, she was killed years ago,” Casillas said. “And they had some technical difficulties when they were signing [to complete the transfer of the house]. But the day they actually signed to give her the house was her mother’s birthday. So it’s crazy how the world works, crazy how God worked.
“But Haneefa’s blessed; you can tell,” he added. “She’s doing things the right way, she’s praying, she’s living the right way. And sometimes things start working out for good people like that.”
This Giants initiative in collaboration with Bob’s, overseen by Giants VP of community and corporate relations Allison Stangeby, has been a beacon of hope for many years, helping families overcome challenges and build a brighter future.
The Neighborhood Assistance Corporation of America (NACA), the Local Initiatives Support Corporation and Invest Newark worked with Newark Land Bank to support Haneefah as a first-time home buyer.
The Newark Land Bank Housing Choice Voucher Conversion Program allows qualified recipients to use their vouchers and down payment assistance to purchase single family homes.
“I want to let the people know out there, all my young men and women, don’t give up on your dream,” Warren said. “If you have a Section 8 Choice voucher, utilize it so you can be a homeowner. Start going through NACA, invest in your city, buy a house from Invest Newark.
“Believe in your dream and your vision, because anything is possible,” Warren added. “I’m a living testimony, and anytime you see me anywhere, come up and ask me and I will tell you my truth. Because anything is possible. I’m so happy. Thank you so much.”