Habitat for Humanity of the Chesapeake

Description

Seeking to put God’s love into action, Habitat for Humanity brings people together to build homes, communities and hope.

Habitat for Humanity of the Chesapeake is part of a global, nonprofit housing organization operated on Christian principles that seeks to put God’s love into action by building homes, communities and hope. Habitat for Humanity of the Chesapeake is dedicated to eliminating substandard housing locally and worldwide through constructing, rehabilitating and preserving homes; by advocating for fair and just housing policies; and by providing training and access to resources to help families improve their shelter conditions. Habitat for Humanity was founded on the conviction that every man, woman and child should have a simple, durable place to live in dignity and safety, and that decent shelter in decent communities should be a matter of conscience and action for all.

History

Habitat Chesapeake’s goal is to provide hard-working individuals and families in Baltimore City and Anne Arundel, Baltimore and Howard counties with the knowledge and opportunity to purchase a safe, decent affordable home. That is what they have done for the past 30+ years and continue to do every day. Each ground-breaking and home dedication marks another step toward more affordable housing in Central Maryland. The work has proven to be successful and we are proud to partner with volunteers, donors, families, businesses and organizations. Together, they have provided more than 700 families with places to call home.

With the founding of Chesapeake Habitat for Humanity in 1982, the Habitat mission was introduced to Baltimore with staff and volunteers working to rehabilitate the iconic row homes in Baltimore City and County neighborhoods. Just south of Baltimore, others were working to launch the Habitat mission in Anne Arundel County and, in 1986, the Arundel Habitat for Humanity affiliate was established. By June 2009, Chesapeake Habitat had renovated nearly 149 houses, working with more than 411 low-income family members to purchase affordable homes of their own. During the same time, Arundel Habitat had worked with 110 families—403 family members total—to become homeowners.

On July 1, 2009, the Arundel and Chesapeake affiliates merged to form Habitat for Humanity of the Chesapeake—a leading provider of affordable housing in the Anne Arundel County and Greater Baltimore region, and has since served as a leading voice for community transformation throughout the combined service area. In 2011, our reach expanded once again when we merged with Habitat for Humanity of Howard County. In 2014, Habitat Chesapeake joined forces with Sandtown Habtiat for Humanity, building one united affiliate to better serve Central Maryland.

These mergers have allowed what is now Habitat for Humanity of the Chesapeake to serve even more communities and family partners across a wider span of Maryland. By combining efforts, Habitat Chesapeake now has the capacity to renovate vacant and dilapidated inner city housing while also focusing on more rural single-family dwellings. Today, they are serving more families in Central Maryland than ever before.