Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development Secretary and Department Staff Participate in Habitat for Humanity Build

Volunteer commitment supports Governor Hogan’s “Day to Serve” initiative

BALTIMORE, Md. (October 7, 2016) – As part of Governor Larry Hogan’s “Day to Serve” initiative, today Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development Secretary Kenneth C. Holt and other department staff participated in a build on McCabe Avenue in north Baltimore sponsored by Habitat for Humanity of the Chesapeake. Beginning on September 10 and continuing through October 10, “Day to Serve” is a month-long initiative to encourage Maryland residents, including all state employees, to volunteer for a cause of their choice and affect positive change in their communities.

The department has had a long and productive partnership with Habitat for Humanity, supporting its Maryland affiliates through several department programs, including the Community Investment Tax Credit program, the Community Legacy program and Neighborhood BusinessWorks.

“Strengthening our partnership with Habitat for Humanity is a perfect way for our department to support Governor Hogan’s ‘Day to Serve’ call for volunteers,” Secretary Holt said. “Today’s build gives our staff an opportunity to get out in the field and experience firsthand the hard work happening every day across Maryland to expand housing opportunities and improve communities.”

In addition to programmatic support, the department has encouraged staff to volunteer with Habitat for Humanity of the Chesapeake. Since the 1990s, department employees have participated in more than 10 builds for different chapters of Habitat for Humanity across the state. Last year alone, 31 employees volunteered at constructions site builds and Habitat ReStores, which are home improvement stores operated by the nonprofit. Five additional volunteer builds are scheduled by year end.

“Our work with the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development is an outstanding public-private partnership that increases access to affordable housing, improves the lives of low-income homebuyers and strengthens neighborhoods. We are grateful for this important collaboration,” said Mike Posko, CEO of Habitat Chesapeake.

For more information on Day to Serve, visit http://goci.maryland.gov/dts/. For more information on Habitat for Humanity of the Chesapeake, visit https://habitatchesapeake.org/.

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CONTACT: Sara Luell, Director of Communications, sara.luell@maryland.gov, 301-429-7803