Our Stories
During Women Build month, volunteers come together onsite to help build homes for deserving families in the Baltimore region. Women Build invites women in particular to practice skills in construction and leadership by working alongside Habitat Chesapeake staff members, assisting and leading on projects such a dry wall installation, painting, and carpentry tasks.
On a sunny Friday morning, Habitat Chesapeake proudly welcomed its newest homeowners to Pigtown at a special home dedication and ribbon cutting ceremony. With Orioles staff and community partners in attendance, this special project marked the culmination of construction on three new-construction row homes less than a mile from Camden Yards.
Thanks to the incredible Habitat Chesapeake ReStore staff, individuals can donate new and gently-used furniture and home goods right from their doorstep by scheduling a donation pickup. ReStore donation specialists, like Darien and Shawn, make the process as simple as possible for donors while giving new life and new homes to your items.
In 2018, Habitat Chesapeake demolished seven vacant, burned-out houses in Pigtown, Baltimore. The plan was simple: replace the derelict structures with three larger homes. The goal? Transform the 1100 block of Ward Street from blight to stability, fostering a stronger, healthier neighborhood where homebuyers find safety, security and the much-deserved opportunity to build a brighter future for their families. To accomplish this, we looked to our dedicated group of supporters including our very own “Home Team”, The Baltimore Orioles, to bring some Bird Land magic to our build site!
During AmeriCorps Week, we recognize the commitment of millions of Americans who serve the country and encourage others to pursue service to their communities. AmeriCorps members, Habitat for Humanity affiliates, and organizations across the country come together during the second week of March to highlight the ways that service from AmeriCorps members helps advance their mission and build stronger communities.
Just off the heels of its sixth anniversary, the HabiCorps Workforce Development Program is stepping into 2023 with hammers swinging! Since its inception in 2017, HabiCorps hones in or preparing trainees for successful careers in carpentry, drywall, framing, construction, landscaping, and professional skills. With six years under its tool belt, there’s no signs of slowing down.
Habitat Chesapeake joined affiliates from across the country at Capitol Hill to urge Congress to pass legislation supporting affordable housing. Read more!
Habitat for Humanity of the Chesapeake was pleased to celebrate Martin Luther King Day 2023 onsite with partners from Clark Construction Group!
As Whitney cut the ribbon stretched across the front door of her new home on Dudley Avenue, she couldn’t stop smiling. This day was a long time coming for Whitney, a single mother of three, and her joy was infectious on the day of her home dedication in Belair-Edison.
Welcoming the 2022-2023 HabiCorps Workforce Trainees! On a chilly morning in November, the quiet neighborhood around Ward Street was filled with the sounds of friendly chatter as Habitat Chesapeake staff, government partners, and neighbors gathered to meet the 2022 class of HabiCorps Workforce Development trainees as they began their daily work.
On October 26, 2022 Habitat Chesapeake was honored to bring together volunteers, partner organizations, sponsors, homebuyers, and HabiCorps alums to celebrate four decades of growth and service. Hosted at the historic Clifton Mansion in East Baltimore, guests mingled as dusk fell and our most dedicated partners shared their stories from the past 40 years emphasizing their commitment of building homes throughout the Baltimore region.
Celebrating the changing of the seasons with Fall Build, featuring Stanley Black & Decker! Longtime Habitat Chesapeake partner Stanley Black & Decker joined Habitat staff onsite for two weeks in August and September for Fall Build 2022. Groups of 10-20 volunteers came out to Ward Street, located in Pigtown, Southwest Baltimore for eight days to work on three new homes.
Congratulations, Graduates!
Congratulations to the 2022 HabiCorps Graduates! Among the congratulations of friends, family, and staff, the 2021-2022 cohort of the HabiCorps Workforce Development program celebrated graduating in late August at Habitat for Humanity of the Chesapeake headquarters.
Habitat Chesapeake is pleased to be building 9 newly-constructed homes on the 1100 block of Church Street in Curtis Bay, a South Baltimore community. Neighboring Brooklyn and Cherry Hill, this area offers easy access to major highways and interstates, the Inner Harbor, and beautiful outdoor amenities like the Farring Baybrook Park and Masonville Cove. Learn more!
Habitat Chesapeake is teaming up with the Orioles to help build several homes in Southwest Baltimore! Throughout July, September, and October, Orioles staff and players joined our construction team onsite in Pigtown, just a few blocks from Camden Yards.
Observing Juneteenth
Black households in the U.S. are 30% less likely to own their own home as compared to white households, and the racial homeownership gap continues to grow, especially with the additional economic pressure felt from COVID. Addressing these inequities is critical to our work as we serve the populations of Baltimore and central Maryland. On June 19th, we marked Juneteenth.
“We have to know these stories. It’s only in understanding how we got where we are that we can really re-engineer and create a positive future,” said Gregg Mitchell, Habitat Chesapeake CAO, as he introduced Lawrence Lanahan’s seminar at the Homewood campus of Johns Hopkins University.
Last month, the Johns Hopkins campus chapter of Habitat Young Professionals hosted the first-ever “Beyond the Build” seminar event, which aims to highlight critical housing issues informed by the intersection of race, wealth, history, and socioeconomics.
HabiCorps, Habitat Chesapeake’s groundbreaking workforce development program, hosted its first-ever bowling reunion this past March, with alumni from the past 5 years of graduates as well as instructors and Habitat staff in attendance. Among the crash of bowling pins, alumni were able to catch up and reminisce about their time in the program as well as talk about where they’re headed.
5 Years: Happy HabiCorps Reunion!
HabiCorps, Habitat Chesapeake’s groundbreaking workforce development program, hosted its first-ever bowling reunion this past March, with alumni from the past 5 years of graduates as well as instructors and Habitat staff in attendance. Among the crash of bowling pins, alumni were able to catch up and reminisce about their time in the program as well as talk about where they’re headed.
This AmeriCorps Service Week, we’re highlighting some of the AmeriCorps service members that work with Habitat Chesapeake to bring affordable homeownership to more communities and families across Central Maryland.
Volunteer Spotlight: February 2022
Habitat Chesapeake is honored to partner with dedicated and hard-working volunteers who do everything from build houses, run the ReStores, and work alongside homeowners. As part of our thanks to these incredible groups and individuals who make our mission a reality, we are highlighting a different volunteer each month in a Volunteer Spotlight. Join us to hear the stories of our volunteers and their incredible work. This month, meet Adrienne!
On International Women’s Day, Habitat Chesapeake wants to highlight the many roles women and people of all genders embrace to support affordable homeownership in Maryland. From volunteers, to leaders, to homebuyers, women are a crucial cornerstone for Habitat’s work, and we appreciate their unique perspectives and applaud their work in light of the challenges they face.
