By Delia Devito, Director of Operations, ReStore

In the world of affordable housing, we often focus on the “sticks and bricks”—the literal construction of a residence. But at Habitat for Humanity Greater Boston, we have a powerful engine humming behind the scenes that makes those bricks possible: the ReStore. As we prepare to expand our footprint with our newest location in Watertown, it is the perfect moment to reflect on why the ReStore is more than just a retail outlet; it is a cornerstone of our ability to build a more equitable city and a vital pillar of our $40M Building A GREATER Boston Campaign.

The Circular Economy of Compassion

The ReStore model is a rare “triple-win” for our community. First, it serves as a critical revenue stream; every gently used sofa, set of kitchen cabinets, or recycled gallons of paint sold directly funds the construction of affordable homes in neighborhoods like Dorchester, Roslindale, and Malden.

Second, it provides a vital service by offering high-quality home goods at a fraction of retail prices. In an era where the cost of living continues to climb, being able to furnish a home or complete a DIY repair affordably is a matter of stability for many families. Finally, there is the environmental impact. By diverting over a million pounds of materials from local landfills each year, we are ensuring that the “Greater Boston” we build is also a more sustainable one.

The Watertown Milestone: Scaling Our Impact

Our long-standing West Roxbury location has proven that the community is eager to shop with a purpose. However, the demand for affordable housing in our region far outpaces our current capacity. This is why the opening of the Watertown ReStore is a game-changer and a central component of our Building A GREATER Boston campaign.

This ambitious campaign is our roadmap to doubling our impact, and the Watertown hub allows us to:

• Fuel the Campaign: Increased retail revenue from this location provides the steady capital needed to meet our $40 million goal, allowing us to acquire more land and build more homes than ever before.
• Engage New Partners: Watertown offers a central location to connect with new donors, corporate partners, and volunteers who are eager to contribute to our region’s housing solutions.
• Support Partner Families: Our homeowners-in-progress often perform their “sweat equity” hours at the ReStore. This new location provides more opportunities for these families to invest in their future and build the community they will soon call home.

Building Careers, Not Just Homes: The ReStore as a Workforce Development Engine

When we talk about what the ReStore does for Greater Boston, we often begin with revenue and sustainability. But there is a third dimension of impact that deserves equal attention: the people who have grown, learned, and launched careers within our walls.

“The ReStore has always been more than a place to shop. For many, it has been the place where they first learned what they were capable of.”

Over the years, the ReStore has welcomed high school and college students during summers, school breaks, and academic years—many of them fulfilling community service requirements, others simply discovering a passion for purposeful work. These young people have stocked shelves, assisted customers, managed inventory, and in doing so, have built real-world skills in customer service, operations, and retail management that no classroom alone can provide.

But our workforce development mission extends well beyond students. The ReStore has consistently served as a welcoming on-ramp for individuals reentering the workforce—whether after a period of unemployment, a career transition, a health challenge, or time away from work for personal reasons. We do not ask people to arrive polished. We ask them to arrive ready, and we meet them where they are.

We are also proud of the role the ReStore has played in creating genuine opportunity for individuals with special needs. For many team members who found it difficult to secure meaningful employment elsewhere, the ReStore has provided not just a paycheck, but a community—a place where their contributions are valued, their growth is celebrated, and their presence makes us stronger. This is inclusion in practice, not in principle.

As we apply for grants that recognize workforce development as a driver of economic equity, the ReStore stands as living proof of concept. The skills built here—in logistics, retail, customer relations, and community engagement—are transferable. The confidence built here is lasting. And the relationships formed here often shape the trajectories of people’s lives long after they have moved on to their next chapter.

The Watertown expansion will not only increase our retail capacity—it will expand our ability to provide these opportunities to an entirely new pool of community members who need them most.

A Call to Action

Affordable homeownership and maintenance are the most effective tools we have for breaking the cycle of poverty and building generational wealth. Through the Building A GREATER  Boston Campaign, we are not just dreaming of a better city; we are financing and constructing it.

Whether you are a contractor donating surplus supplies, a businessowner looking to donate materials like cabinets, doors, lighting, windows, furniture or hardware, a homeowner clearing out a basement, or a shopper looking for a hidden gem, you are a part of the construction crew. You aren’t just buying a lamp; you’re helping a family light up their first home. As we look toward the grand opening in Watertown, we invite you to join us. Together, we are building strength, stability, and self-reliance—one donation at a time.