About Habitat for Humanity
Habitat for Humanity is a global nonprofit housing organization working in local communities across all 50 states in the U.S. and more than 70 countries around the world. Habitat’s vision is of a world where everyone has a decent place to live. Habitat works toward this vision by building strength, stability and self-reliance in partnership with people and families in need of a decent affordable home.
About Habitat for Humanity of the Chesapeake
Habitat Chesapeake is one of 1,400 Habitat for Humanity affiliates around the world operating and fundraising independently to meet the unique needs of the communities we serve. Since our founding in 1982, Habitat Chesapeake has built/renovated more than 750 homes in 18 communities across Baltimore City and Baltimore, Anne Arundel and Howard counties. These homes have offered safety and stability to more than 2,500 children and family members while bringing much-needed investment to underserved communities suffering from vacancy and neglect.
In addition to building homes, Habitat Chesapeake operates six ReStores which sell new and gently-used furniture, building materials, appliances and more at discount prices. ReStores serve as an important resource for low-income families, as well as a critical source of funding to support our work.
In 2016, Habitat Chesapeake also launched a workforce development program, HabiCorps, which provides 10.5 months of hands-on instruction in carpentry and construction management to low-income, often previously incarcerated individuals. Trainees receive AmeriCorps stipends and benefits and learn while building Habitat homes.
The Habitat Model
Habitat believes in providing families a ‘hand up’ and not a ‘hand out’
Habitat for Humanity is known throughout the world for its unique “partnership housing” model in which Habitat homebuyers complete “sweat equity” hours building their own home and others alongside Habitat staff and volunteers. In addition to working on construction sites, homebuyers must attend 50 hours of homebuyer education classes covering financial management, budgeting and home repair, as well as volunteer in ReStores and at community events. For Habitat Chesapeake, this partnership reduces building costs and ensures that we are able to guide and support families on their journey to becoming stable, self-reliant homeowners. For our families, this partnership offers a sense of pride and ownership in their home and an opportunity to build relationships with neighbors before ever moving in! The partnership continues well beyond settlement. When Habitat partner families settle on their home, their mortgage payments cycle back to help partner with more families and communities in need. For more information on how we select Habitat partner families, please visit our Homeownership Program page.
All Are Welcome
Habitat for Humanity of the Chesapeake has an open-door policy. All who believe that everyone needs a decent, affordable place to live are welcome to help with the work, regardless of race, religion, age, gender, political views or any of the other distinctions that too often divide people. In short, Habitat welcomes volunteers and supporters from all backgrounds and also serves people in need of decent housing regardless of race or religion. As a matter of policy, Habitat for Humanity and its affiliates do not proselytize. This means that Habitat will not offer assistance on the expressed or implied condition that people must either adhere to or convert to a particular faith, or listen and respond to messaging designed to induce conversion to a particular faith.
