A Message from our Executive Director

Harford County will update their Master Plan and is looking for input from its citizens. One of the themes is housing. As you know, the need for decent and affordable homes for low-to-moderate income families is overwhelming. These families have to make tough decisions about what necessities they can afford.

According to Harford County’s Consolidated Plan, there is a shortage of at least 2,000 homes for low-to-moderate income households. (Reference: page 76, Harford County Consolidated Plan, FY 2026–2030.)

Please complete the quick 5-minute survey today and let them know that there are not enough homes that are affordable for the workforce at: Harford Forward Community Survey. The survey will not be available indefinitely.

It is important to have as many people provide this input as possible, so please share it with your family, friends, and neighbors.

Double the impact, double the hope

This fiscal year, we are planning to build seven affordable homes for low-income households and families in need. Last year, we built six homes for local families, completed critical home repairs for 30 extremely low-income households (including seniors, veterans, and individuals with disabilities), and provided in-depth financial education to over 150 people. Additionally, we empowered nearly 350 high school students with hands-on construction training and STEM education through our "Habi-Tech" program.

Behind every Habitat home is a life transformed. However, before finding stability and hope through Habitat, single mothers and families like Samantha (who moved into her Habitat home earlier this year) navigated intense financial hardship, housing instability, and the overwhelming daily demands of caring for a child with disabilities and health issues.

The Gilligan family, our donors and long-time construction volunteers, understands that funding for construction materials is greatly needed; they are matching the first $5,000 of this campaign to ensure your gift goes twice as far!

Please partner with us today—Double the Impact & Double the Hope—and turn your generosity into affordable homes and brighter futures! Visit our website to donate.

Yvonne Golczewski

NOTABLE DATES

Nov 1: Habitat for Humanity Susquehanna turns 33! The nonprofit officially announced its incorporation on November 1, 1993.

Nov 11: Veterans Day. With gratitude to all Veterans for your service to our country, on this day and always!

Nov 26-27: Closed for Thanksgiving. Habitat Susquehanna's Bel Air office and build sites are closed on Thursday and Friday in observance of Thanksgiving.

The Aberdeen ReStore is closed only on Thanksgiving day. The Black Friday store hours are from 9 AM to 4 PM. Follow its social media pages for special Black Friday sales announcements.

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DECEMBER'S CALENDAR

Since our next newsletter, the December issue, traditionally contains a holiday message rather than our normal news content, here are the following notable dates in December:

Dec 24-Jan 1: Closed for the holidays. Habitat Susquehanna's Bel Air Office and build sites are closed.

The Aberdeen ReStore holiday hours are as follows: Open December 26, 28, 29, and 30. Closed December 24, 25, 31, and January 1.

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SAVE THE DATE

Apr 2, 2027: Dream Builders Ball. 7 PM. The Liriodendron Mansion, 502 W Gordon Street, Bel Air. Tickets and sponsorships are now available! Must be age 21+ to attend.

CLICK HERE to purchase tickets or sponsorships to the Dream Builders Ball

Thank you to Team Rubicon

Team Rubicon is a Veteran-led humanitarian organization. They have been volunteering with us for countless years, both in Harford and Cecil Counties. Their next day of volunteering with us is on Veterans Day. It seems appropriate to highlight this amazing group of volunteers during a month when we honor our Veterans so we can say, "Thank you for your service!"

On a side note, a big thank you also goes to the American Legion Riders Slate Ridge Post #182 who made a donation to purchase lunch for Team Rubicon when these Veterans volunteer at our build site on November 11. The donation included additional funds to help pay for a heater for a low-income family through our Repair Program's "heaters needed" campaign. See article further below for more information on this fundraising campaign.

Construction Program news

NORMAN AVENUE, ABERDEEN: We are in the planning stage of a home dedication ceremony for the two families who will be living in this duplex. If you would like to receive an invitation to attend, please contact Development Manager John Lanigan.

DEAVER STREET, HAVRE DE GRACE: This property is intended as the location for two Habitat homes. Volunteer dates are currently to be determined, but follow our Volunteer Schedule to learn about upcoming opportunities, as they become available and publicized.

HAVEN AVENUE, ABINGDON: We have gone to settlement on a lot where we can move the Harford "Habi-Tech" house. This student-built house has been wrapped and stored at the Old Dominion Electric Cooperative (ODEC)'s Wildcat Point Generation Facility while we searched to acquire a suitable lot. Volunteer opportunities will likely occur by the end of the year to help complete the home.

NOTE: Finding affordable land is always a challenge. If you know of a land parcel for sale or for donation, contact Alison Vain, Acquisitions Manager.

BOOTH STREET, ELKTON: Our Cecil "Habi-Tech" house, which was transported from the Cecil County School of Technology (CCST) to its final, permanent location on Booth Street, is near completion. Habitat staff and volunteers have been finishing it since its move from the CCST in July. We have an approved homebuyer who is currently doing his 250 partner hours, working on the build site and/or Aberdeen ReStore; taking six financial education classes; and, taking a home maintenance course as well as a first-time homeowner course. In addition, there were planned Friends & Family Days which allowed others to work at our build site and donate up to 100 volunteer hours toward his partner hours.

Email John Lanigan if you would like to be included on the invitation list for an upcoming home dedication ceremony once it has been scheduled.

Top photo: Soon-to-be next-door neighbors Ayal and Abeba, in an earlier photo, working in front of their duplex on Norman Avenue, Aberdeen. The homebuyers have since completed their 250 partner hours but continue to volunteer at the build site. Their future homes are near completion. Ayal and her husband, Yonas, are the parents of a 11-year-old son; Abeba is the mother of a fourteen-year-old daughter.

FUN FACT: The Norman Avenue duplex was the location of this year's Women Build.

Middle photo: Harford "Habi-Tech" house was wrapped at the Harford Technical High School before being transported to ODEC for temporary storage. We have now purchased a suitable lot for the house and will be making arrangements to transport it, so that Habitat staff and volunteers can finish it.

Bottom photo: Cecil "Habi-Tech" house photographed in late October. It is near completion.

CLICK HERE to give the gift of warmth to someone in need this season

Repair Program news

We continue to raise funds to purchase heaters for ten low-income households on our Repair Program's waiting list. We are pleased to announce that so far we have raised enough to help four homeowners! Help us reach the remaining six.

A big note of thanks to those who have donated so far. To date, you have helped us reach approximately 44 percent of our goal!

Whether it's $5, $10, $15 or more, your gift, combined with others, adds up to helping keep someone warm this season. Will you donate today?

Weekly sales at the Aberdeen ReStore

"You are my new favorite thrift store," Karen V. recently posted as a comment on the Aberdeen ReStore's Facebook page. "It’s a 45 minute drive for me but totally worth the trip!"

We love that kind of feedback! Our Aberdeen ReStore has a lot of perks that make any visit worthwhile. For instance, did you know that the ReStore has special sales going on through the week?

Tuesdays: lighting

Wednesdays: wall art & building materials

Thursdays: housewares, restaurant supplies, holiday decor

Fridays: select furniture

Come visit our Aberdeen ReStore! It is located at 1013 Beards Hill Road, Aberdeen.

Our Aberdeen ReStore's Facebook page has reached 28,000 followers! Are you one of them?

Our ReStore Manager John Kunzelman regularly posts videos showcasing the variety of inventory the store receives, and everything is priced to move quickly for prompt sales. Visit our Facebook page and watch John's videos for the latest updates.

Habitat report on full cost of housing includes what people are forced to give up

Habitat for Humanity International (HFHI) has released a new global housing report to examine the hidden costs of housing.

Key findings

Housing pressures are costing people their health and well-being.

Housing costs are putting futures on hold.

Safety is part of the price people are paying for housing.

The climate crisis is increasingly affecting housing safety.

People want housing systems that work.

Take Action

Advocating for affordable homes requires all of us!

These findings reinforce our belief that safe, decent and affordable housing is more than shelter; it is the foundation for healthier lives, stronger communities, and greater economic opportunity.

Governments, private-sector businesses, civil society and individuals all have a role in shaping whether people can access housing that expands their choices rather than limiting them.

The report is called Home at What Cost: A global report on how housing shapes safety, well-being and life's biggest decisions.

To read the report in its entirety, visit the HFHI website.

CLICK HERE to call on Congress to provide robust funding for Habitat's priority housing programs in FY 2027. Together, we are Habitat Voices in Action!

Staff news

We have several work anniversaries to announce for November and December:

Nicole Riley celebrates a one-year "workiversary" in November as a Field Coordinator for our Repair Program.

William Hines marks his second year as a Donation Ambassador at our Aberdeen ReStore. His work anniversary falls in December.

December will also mark a "workiversary" for Ashley Hall -- her ninth year as a Volunteer Coordinator at our Aberdeen ReStore.

Habitat homeowner news

Each month, we like to feature those homeowners who celebrate a milestone with regard to their Habitat homes. We feel it is important to highlight the long-term success of affordable homeownership.

Two couples observe 25 years of Habitat homeownership during the month of November: Mekonnen and Etsegenet (who have paid off their mortgage), and Kevin and Lura.

In December, the following have milestone anniversaries as Habitat homeowners:

Tiffany: 20 years

Cesar and Maria: 15 years

Afsaneh: 10 years

Congratulations to all! These achievements remind us of why we build, and we love every chance we get to honor these milestones with you.

Board news

Board President Ryan Alban and Executive Director Yvonne Golczewski (top photo, at far right) attended this year's Affiliate Conference in Atlanta, Georgia with other Habitat Susquehanna staff members.

Habitat for Humanity International representatives, U.S. Habitat affiliates, and affiliate support organizations met for four days of professional development, networking, and fellowship.

Ryan and Yvonne met with the Habitat for Humanity Kenya National Director, Dr. Eileen Mokaya (top photo, second from left), and other Habitat representatives to learn more about the work being done by Habitat Kenya and their vision for making more of an impact.

We currently give annual tithe support to Kenya, Malawi, and Egypt. To date, our lifetime tithe totals over $1 million.

We were honored to receive the Sam Mompongo Award in recognition of our financial contributions to Habitat's global ministry (bottom photo).

This year's conference theme was Open the Door: Honoring Our Past and Framing Our Future. It highlighted Habitat's 50-year anniversary, and featured more than 150 workshops and over 100 exhibitors.

Pictured: Habitat for Humanity International CEO Jonathan Reckford (in center) presents to Habitat Susquehanna the Sam Mompongo Award at the recent Affiliate Conference. This award recognizes Habitat for Humanity affiliates that have a lifetime tithe total between $1 million and $2,999,999.

Representing Habitat Susquehanna, from left to right: Community Engagement Manager Michele Louderback; Homeownership Program Manager Heather Gibson; Executive Director Yvonne Golczewski; Board President Ryan Alban; and, Director of Development Ola Boswell.

Your vehicle can build local homes this holiday season

This year-end, consider supporting our mission in a different way. Donate a vehicle! Whether it's a car, truck, motorcycle, boat, or RV, Cars for Homes™ makes it simple.

When you donate a vehicle in Harford and Cecil Counties, the proceeds stay local and help us build homes for families right here. The best part: