Habitat For Humanity Maryland located in Baltimore, Maryland

NOW IN ITS 26TH YEAR OF HELPING DESERVING MARYLAND CITIZENS BECOME FIRST TIME HOMEOWNERS.

Sometimes it's a little overwhelming to think about our mission of totally eliminating substandard housing in the State of Maryland. We are not there yet, but we are making progress! In celebration of the more than 800 Habitat houses built here in our state, Habitat for Humanity Maryland would like to highlight some of the people and events that make up the history of our organization. It is a rich history that has touched the lives of the many hundreds of homeowner families and thousands of volunteers, staff and other partners.

Since the first affiliate was founded here in 1982, we have worked in partnership with more than 800 homeowners. That means that close to 2,500 people - both adults and children - have been able to move out of substandard housing into safe, secure homes. On average, Habitat for Humanity is building one house every 5 days here in Maryland and one house every 26 minutes worldwide. By the end of 2008, more than 250,000 families around the world will be living in Habitat houses. Habitat for Humanity International is working in all 50 states of the United States and in 100 countries of the world.

Being involved with Habitat is a life-changing experience for many people. On the following pages, we will share with you the stories of the partner families and other volunteers who have worked with us during the first 25 years. As we reflect on our past and plan for the future, consider the words of someone who was familiar with big challenges:

Somewhere we must come to see that human progress never rolls on the wheels of inevitability. It comes through the tireless efforts and the persistent work of dedicated individuals who are willing to be co-workers with God.

- Martin Luther King Jr.

We Are Just Getting Started

Habitat's mission of working in partnership with approved, eligible, low-income families to move them out of substandard housing touches a most fundamental cord in our hearts: that of basic survival.
As we reflect on the past 25 years, Habitat for Humanity Maryland's 18 affiliates are proud of their work toward fulfilling this mission. Their accomplishments include:

Nearly 2,500 men, women and children no longer live in substandard housing.

Eighteen local affiliates have been established and are working in 20 out of the 24 local jurisdictions in Maryland. Habitat for Humanity Maryland now reaches families in rural, urban and suburban areas all across the state.

Campus chapters are in operation at universities, colleges and high schools across the state.

More than 100,000 volunteers have donated more than 400,000 hours preparing for and building simple, decent Habitat houses.

Over $80 million has been invested in the communities where Habitat for Humanity Maryland works through materials purchased, contract employment of licensed trade and increases in local tax rolls.

These are exciting accomplishments indeed. However, we are just getting started. While more than 800 homes have been completed, we are already planning to complete our 1,000th house in early 2010. In order to accomplish this goal, we need to increase the capacity of each affiliate by a minimum of one more house every year.

This goal is surely achievable, but not without the help of dedicated volunteers. We need workers - both skilled and unskilled - to help with construction projects. We need "build-able" land and "rehab-able" houses. We need qualified partner families, as well as volunteers to help prepare families for homeownership. We need volunteer coordinators, office workers and computer engineers. We need volunteers to help us solicit cash and in-kind donations. We need volunteers to prepare meals and provide water for workers on the build site. We need volunteers to write letters, articles and grants. We need prayer. In other words, no matter what your skills or interests may be: WE NEED YOU!