the next episode in our 21 digital film series is now online the series examines a simple question of does where you live in the state affect how you live 21 profiles one person each of our 21 counties and looks at the social determinants that affect that person's life the latest film introduces us to Salem County's Sue and leidy who is the executive director of Habitat for Humanity she transforms neglected land into havens of Hope for those who need affordable housing but you need to be willing to help build it she calls it Sweat Equity Brianna vannozzi talked with sueanne take a look Sue and Lady it's great to get an opportunity to talk with you it's evident in this part of the series that your vision goes well beyond building homes for your community what did you set out to do and what does it actually look like now well our habitat is the oldest in the state of New Jersey and uh so kind of a treasure and we needed to build more homes so when I started 13 years ago uh we had an uphill battle so we've made some changes um but we also realized during that process that it's really important to keep people in their homes and that's where this ramp program came into be it grew from building ramps with wood to getting groups out to you know participate and do some of the ramp builds Girl Scouts Boy Scouts all kinds of college groups but then we realized we're kind of wasting resources and there's a better way to do it so this recyclable ramp program came to be and we now have over 40 ramps in the community and there's always a strong need we could probably uh use 10 more today why was tapping into that so important I mean it's one thing to build someone a home it's another to ensure that it's accessible especially for those who are often marginalized and and overlooked in the community correct it's a quality of life issue and I saw the other day when we were speaking with one of the recipients and something as simple as taking his wife to the diner for mother's day was not possible before the ramp went up um you know he and his grandson had to carry her out he's elderly himself so that just is heartbreaking to me or to think that you just can't go outside on a sunny day and get some sun on your face that you know it's only these emergencies so to me they're shut in um and unable to really socialize and enjoy their life I'm curious what being from Salem County no you weren't born there but you've spent much of your life there means to you and why giving back has become really a Cornerstone of your life this style happened 18 years ago I left my corporate job I loved what I did I learned a lot I went to college but my husband and I have been married 41 years and I've been in this community for 43 years but until that time when I started to get involved first as a realtor but then as the director for Habitat for Humanity out delivering meals on wheels it's a pleasure to go to work every day to see people to know that you're changing lives for people and years after your work with habitat is done what do you think will stay with you most there's some truly magnificent stories of people who um right now as an example one of the homes we built on Highland Avenue in kearney's point the mother just celebrated her daughter's graduation from high school she's going to go to Georgetown on a full scholarship so I see these families flourishing and doing just what I want for my family and to see that they were living and sleeping on a couch in a relative's home or you know just how much this home has meant to them and I just think that's just such a great feeling and getting to know the families it's it's a partner family in the true sense they don't go away once we hand them the keys Sue and Lady uh thank you so much for being part of our 21 film series thank you it was really a pleasure and you can meet Sue Ant and the other extraordinary Jersey residents at mynjpbs.org 21. oh [Music]