Community
Jersey City Sweepstakes Offers Five Years of Rent-Free Housing
A Jersey City housing initiative is giving one lucky winner the chance to live rent-free for five years through a partnership between Roots of Opportunity Foundation and real estate brokerage SERHANT.
The Jersey Keys Sweepstakes centers on The Caliburn, a former convent at 166 Hancock Avenue in Jersey City Heights that was converted into a 13-unit residential building. The winner will receive a five-year lease for a one-bedroom apartment, with an estimated prize value of $120,000.
The campaign was organized by Roots of Opportunity Foundation, founded by real estate developer Zakary Levin, who says his personal experiences overcoming challenges early in life helped shape his mission of creating second chances through housing and community development.
Levin established the foundation to restore neglected historic properties, expand housing opportunities and help families facing financial hardship. Its work includes efforts to prevent evictions and provide security-deposit assistance.
Working alongside the foundation is SERHANT.’s Trompeter Team, including Mark Trompeter, Enrique Napoles, Soo Jin Jung and Alexandrea Fonseca. The real estate professionals have helped bring attention to The Caliburn and the housing initiative.
The property was redeveloped by Valorev Capital, transforming the former convent into modern apartments while giving the historic building a new purpose.
The sweepstakes offers more than just an apartment. The winner may also choose a $75,000 cash alternative instead of the five-year lease.
To enter, participants can visit rootsofopportunity.org/campaign and follow the campaign instructions. Free entry is also available by mail, and no donation or purchase is necessary to participate.
The sweepstakes runs through Jan. 29, 2027, with a potential winner scheduled to be selected in February.
For Levin and the foundation, the campaign reflects a larger goal of using real estate to create opportunities for individuals and families while bringing neglected properties back into use.
