Mission Statement

Habitat for Humanity Greater Boston, Inc. is a Massachusetts charitable nonprofit organization dedicated to building simple low-cost homes by forming partnerships with low-income families in need of decent and affordable housing. We believe homeownership is a vital step to help families break the cycle of poverty and contributes to pride in families and communities.

Habitat for Humanity Greater Boston is an independent affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International, an ecumenical Christian organization headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia and dedicated to ending poverty housing throughout the world as a matter of justice, mercy, compassion and humility.

How the Program Works

Through volunteer labor and tax-deductible donations of money, land, and materials, Habitat Greater Boston builds or rehabilitates simple, decent houses. Families are selected based on their level of need, willingness to work, acceptance of responsibilities and ability to repay a mortgage. Families must complete at least 300 hours of sweat equity and an additional 100 hours of homeowner education classes. Qualified families purchase Habitat homes with zero-interest mortgages, enabling them to own their home. For additional information on owning a home, please click here.

Habitat Greater Boston is a 501 (c)(3) charitable organization. Our projects are funded primarily by private donations from individuals, community groups, corporations, charities, foundations, schools, and religious organizations.

Where We Serve

We serve the following Greater Boston areas: Arlington, Belmont, Boston, Brookline, Cambridge, Chelsea, Dedham, Dover, Everett, Lexington, Lincoln, Malden, Medford, Melrose, Needham, Newton, Revere, Somerville, Stoneham, Waltham, Watertown, Wellesley, Weston, Winchester, Winthrop, and Woburn. If you live outside of our service area, please contact your local affiliate.

History

• 1987 - Habitat's first effort in Boston was the renovation of a Dorchester triple-decker on Havelock Street.
• 1990 - A two-family duplex in Dorchester Terrace was completed.
• 1992 - Habitat renovated an abandoned, incomplete four family structure on West Cottage Street in Roxbury.
• 1996 - Habitat Greater Boston moved its office to Covenant Congregational Church in Jamaica Plain.
• 1997/98 - Four homes were completed on Quincy Street in Dorchester.
• 1999 - A two-family home on Wayland Street and two units on Blue Hill Avenue in Dorchester were completed.
• 2000 - Four Wayland Street homes in Dorchester and two units on Alpine Street were dedicated, one of them was the First Ladies Build/Women's Build home led by Massachusetts First Lady Jan Garnett Cellucci.
• 2001 - A single-family home on Wayland Street in Dorchester and six townhouses on Regent Street in Roxbury were completed.
• 2002 - Celebrated 15 years of building hope by building homes in Boston and completed a four-unit building in Roxbury.
• 2003 - Habitat Greater Boston office moved from the Covenant Congregational Church in Jamaica Plain to an office in downtown Boston.
• 2004 - Habitat completed a five home project in South Boston.
• 2006 - We finished a 7-unit building at Blue Hill Place and started our first suburban Habitat house in Belmont.
• 2007 - Completed five homes in the Greater Boston area.