Garrett County Habitat for Humanity

Garrett County Habitat for Humanity builds simple, decent homes with local families who need better housing, then sells them at cost with a no-interest mortgage. Its office is at 360 W. Liberty St. in Oakland, and it serves people who live or work in Garrett County, along with the volunteers, churches and businesses that help it build.

How Homeownership Works

Habitat is not a giveaway. Partner families buy their homes, paying a 30-year, no-interest mortgage, and those payments go into a revolving fund that pays for the next local build. Every adult in the household also puts in 250 hours of sweat equity and completes a homeowner education program. To qualify, a family needs to show a real need for better housing, meet income guidelines, show the ability to pay, and have lived or worked in Garrett County for the past year. The affiliate notes that the most recent census counted more than 62 homes in the county without indoor running water, which is the kind of need it was set up to meet.

A Local Affiliate Since 1983

The group organized in 1983 and incorporated in Maryland in 1984. It has built 84 houses since then and, counting rehab and repair work done with other agencies, has served 222 Garrett County families. Two full-time staff run the office, and more than 250 volunteers handle construction, committees and fundraising. Support comes mostly from individual gifts, a wreath sale, community events, visiting workcamp groups and more than 20 local churches.

Ways to Help

• Build: construction crews work from late spring to early fall on flooring, carpentry, concrete, siding and landscaping; on-site volunteers must be 16 or older, and anyone 17 and under works alongside a participating adult.
• Shop or donate: the volunteer-run Habitat Home Store at 5411 Hutton Road in Oakland sells new and gently used furniture, housewares, building materials and appliances, and its sales fund new homes. Call (301) 533-2180 to arrange a donation pickup.
• Give: individuals and businesses can donate online or join the Benefactors Club.

If you want to apply for a home or join a build crew, a call or email to the Oakland office is the place to start.

Call Us!

• Website
• (301) 533-0600
• Email
• Facebook