Habitat for Humanity of the Chesapeake, founded in 1982, builds affordable homes across Baltimore City and three surrounding counties and has helped more than 800 residents become homeowners. It runs five ReStores across Central Maryland. Here is how to qualify, what is involved, and how to help.
The affiliate builds and rehabs affordable homes and sells them to qualified families, selecting on need, ability to pay, and willingness to partner. Since 1982 it has helped more than 800 residents become homeowners. It describes the mortgage as affordable without publishing a specific interest rate.
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Income | 30 to 80 percent of area median income. |
| Need | A demonstrated need for affordable housing in the service area. |
| Ability to pay | Able to repay an affordable mortgage. |
| Sweat equity (one adult) | 250 hours: 200 hours of volunteer service plus 50 hours of homebuyer education. |
| Sweat equity (two adults) | 350 hours: 300 hours of volunteer service plus 50 hours of homebuyer education. |
The service area covers Baltimore City and Baltimore, Anne Arundel, and Howard counties.
Applying runs through the affiliate's homeownership program, which lays out the income and sweat-equity requirements and the steps from application to closing. Selection follows the standard Habitat criteria.
Because the program builds and rehabs homes across a four-jurisdiction area, the homeownership page is the place to confirm current openings.
Habitat Chesapeake runs five ReStores, in Dundalk, Timonium, Columbia, Glen Burnie, and Halethorpe, selling donated furniture, appliances, building materials, and home-improvement items at discounted prices. They take donated goods and offer low-cost home improvements to the community while funding the mission.
Donating money, shopping or donating at a ReStore, and joining a build are the main ways to help.
Volunteers help build and rehab homes and support the ReStores, and you can sign up through the affiliate's site.
Habitat Chesapeake has helped more than 800 families into homeownership since 1982, and its EIN for tax-deductible gifts is 52-1226188.
Built and rehabbed homes across four Baltimore-area jurisdictions.
Five stores: Dundalk, Timonium, Columbia, Glen Burnie, and Halethorpe.
Repairs and improvements alongside new construction.
50 hours of education within the sweat-equity requirement.
Build-site and ReStore volunteering.
Donated goods accepted at five ReStores.
Sources: Habitat for Humanity of the Chesapeake (habitatchesapeake.org) homeownership pages and Live Baltimore; GuideStar (EIN 52-1226188). The mortgage interest rate is not published. Retrieved June 2026. We are not affiliated with Habitat for Humanity of the Chesapeake and receive no compensation for this listing. Spotted an error? [email protected]
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