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Habitat for Humanity of the Chesapeake, an organization that’s been bringing people together to build homes, communities and hope for more than 40 years, was joined by funders, community partners and its six newest homeowners June 12 as it celebrated achieving its 800th home milestone and looks ahead to its ambitious goal of 1,000 homes within the next few years.
The six homes being dedicated – four on Church Street in south Baltimore’s Curtis Bay neighborhood and two on Ward Street in southwest Baltimore’s Pigtown neighborhood – will soon be homes to Kanieka Neal and her 2-year-old son; Randy Bradford, joined by his daughter and grandchildren; Susan Giner, who currently resides in Baltimore County but is excited to move to the city and others, and others.
Habitat Chesapeake has been building impact in Curtis Bay for the past 15 years starting with the acquisition of land off Church Street, and over the past three years, has made significant progress in construction. Nine homes are being built, including four that were dedicated June 12, bringing value to the neighborhood with recent appraisals appraising the value of the houses at more than $200,000.
Building on the 800th home milestone, Habitat Chesapeake is accelerating its progress toward its 1,000th house milestone with the construction of 27 homes in the Orchard Ridge neighborhood of Baltimore; seven homes in Anne Arundel County; the expansion and revitalization efforts in Sandtown, Penn Lucy and Edmonson Village; and additional properties in Howard County.
Habitat Chesapeake recognizes that a safe, decent and affordable place to live is one of the most fundamental needs in life. Through its homeownership program, the organization helps low-to-moderate-income families throughout Baltimore city and surrounding counties realize the dream of homeownership. Habitat homebuyers play a hands-on role in the process, contributing sweat equity hours, which includes working to help build and renovate the places they will call home.
Participants must also complete homebuyer education and financial literacy courses as a part of the rigorous affordable homeownership program. All homebuyers receive a 0% interest mortgage and a mortgage payment that never exceeds 30% of their annual income.
The dedication event was made possible by funders including PRIME AE, Catholic Daughters of America, DAP and Window Nation. Window Nation, the third largest window manufacturer in the United States, has partnered with Habitat since 2017 and donated windows and financial support to the four Church Street homes being dedicated.
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Kanieka Neal, second from right, and her 2-year-old son celebrate her new house along with her parents. (Photo by Ryn Tilghman, Dot Violet Photography)
Pastor Deborah Dallas, of Whosoever Will Deliverance Temple Inc., congratulates Thom Mozdenski, a Habitat for Humanity of the Chesapeake home owner, during the ribbon-cutting celebration. (Photo by Ryn Tilghman, Dot Violet Photography)
From left, Mike Posko, Habitat for Humanity of the Chesapeake CEO; Ed Chamberlayne, senior vice president of federal programs of Prime AE; and Michael Garcia, Habitat Chesapeake Director of Donor Relations, attended Habitat Chesapeake’s ceremony to commemorate the organization’s 800th home created. (Photo by Ryn Tilghman, Dot Violet Photography)
From left, Thom Mozdenski, Randy Bradford, Kanieka Neal and Susan Giner, all new Habitat Chesapeake homeowners, cut the ceremonial ribbon celebrating the 800th home created by the organization. (Photo by Ryn Tilghman, Dot Violet Photography)
Ray Conaway, acting district director for Office of U.S. Rep. Kweisi Mfume, D-Md., delivers remarks to the crowd during the event celebrating the 800th home created by Habitat for Humanity of the Chesapeake. (Photo by Ryn Tilghman, Dot Violet Photography)
Brien O’Toole, chief of housing production with the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development, addresses the audience during the event celebrating the 800th home created by Habitat for Humanity of the Chesapeake as Habitat Chesapeake CEO Mike Posko looks on. (Photo by Ryn Tilghman, Dot Violet Photography)