Want to make a huge impact in one day?

Join us on Saturday, October 5 from 8:30am-1pm for our annual community clean up day 'Rock the Block' in Norristown!

Where: Cherry St Park
When: Registration at 8am / Event from 9am-2pm

All volunteers will receive a free t-shirt and lunch!
All tools will be provided.
Check back for sign up link!

Contact us today if you would like a project done or to join in the fun! 

For more info:
Rock the Block

By Marianne Lynch, Chief Executive Officer

Over the last year, I have had the privilege of serving on the Montgomery County Affordable Housing Task Force. It has been an honor to be in the same room with so many representatives from Government, the private sector and other non-profits all gathered together to determine the challenges that so many families are facing in trying to find a home that is affordable. This week, some of the findings of the committee have been released and they are a bit daunting to say the least.

In Montgomery County, half of the renters in our community pay more than 30% of their incomes towards housing cost. At the same time, the price of a home in 2019 is $295,000, up from $285,000 just a year ago. Seniors are also struggling to age in place due to redevelopment and rising taxes and people who work in our area, like police officers or teachers can no longer afford to live here. In our area, a family would need to make $24.35 per hour in order to afford the average two-bedroom apartment.

These issues are not unique to Montgomery County, but are present throughout the region and in many places around the country. In places like San Francisco or New York City, the cost of having a roof over your head is rising faster than your income can compete. According to theNational Low-Income Housing Coalition, there is a shortage of 7.2 million units of affordable housing across the country.

So, what does that mean to our community and our quality of life? First, it means that families are sacrificing things like food and medicine to pay for housing. It means that they move more often, chasing affordable rents and communities, uprooting kids and creating instability that can lead to behavior issues, health problems and more. It means that seniors are being displaced due to gentrification and redevelopment of what were once affordable communities. This displacement means that many of them become residents in assisted living facilities funded by taxpayers. It means that the next generation is not able to pay student loans, build wealth or even meet basic needs. It means that all communities suffer from things like commuter traffic, community disconnection and apathy because people are unable to put down roots. For me, it means that my son, who is studying to become a secondary school teacher, probably won’t be able to live near me and won’t be able to purchase a home of his own for a very long time, if ever.

While much of the picture I paint seems hopeless, I think that there are solutions. First, people need to know the problem exists, second, they have to understand the impact to their own life and third, they need to feel compelled to act. I believe that if you are reading my blog, you already are on board, but probably wondering what you can do to help. Let me share some great places to start!

We are joining with 1,200 other Habitat affiliates around the country in rolling out Habitat for Humanity’s first national advocacy campaign, The Cost of Home. The easiest thing to do is to start following our efforts on social media and sharing them with others. Follow us at HabitatMontDelCo and check out @costofhome across Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Share our posts or create your own talking about how affordability is important to all of us.

If social media isn’t your thing, there are so many other ways to help bring light to this issue including contacting your local, regional and state political leaders as well as your congressional representatives. Send us an email and we can help you get started with postcards, letters and more to send to your leaders.

Not the political type? That’s fine too! We need help to tip the affordable housing scales back in our favor by building homes, addressing blight in our communities, helping fund repairs for seniors, and teaching people how to increase their incomes through financial education. To reach more people, we need you – as volunteers, investors, and advocates. There are so many ways to get involved that I can guarantee we have a place for you in helping solve this seemingly insurmountable issue.  You can sign up to volunteer through our website, contact me for more information on getting or share my blog to get others involved as well.

The great thing about working with so many others on this issue is that, when we combine our efforts, it is very hard to ignore the voices of so many people calling attention to affordability in unison.

Tim served in the US Navy from 1999 until 2001 when he suffered a head injury that ended his career as a sailor.  After being discharged from the VA hospital in Coatesville, Tim found himself addicted to the pain medication that made functioning possible.  After a string of bad luck, Tim found himself homeless.

Even in the darkest times, he did not give up on himself. He found support through his family and recovery resources in Delaware County helping him recover and purchase a home through a Veterans program in 2011.

Unfortunately, the home he purchased began letting him down. Before moving in, the roof was replaced, but was not vented properly, resulting in mold, mildew and unbearable air quality that sickened his caregivers. He, his mom and brother all suffer with chronic respiratory issues.  Adding insult to injury, water runoff from the roof and yard flowed directly toward the foundation, causing a wet basement, creating an even larger mold problem.  Tim attempted to repair the home on his own, and while shopping for some plywood, he learned about the Critical Home Repair Program with Habitat for Humanity of Montgomery and Delaware Counties.

Critical Home Repair makes life at home possible.  With repairs ranging from providing new roofs, to building wheelchair accessible ramps, Habitat focuses on fixing things that can compromise safety, security or access while allowing residents to remain in their homes. Since this program began three years ago, 85 repairs in our community have been made and have saved our communities over $1,000,000 in subsidized assisted living costs. Our ability to assist Tim with the repairs necessary to alleviate his roof and basement issues is just one example of how this program is delivering real results.

Consider making a gift to Habitat for Humanity of Montgomery and Delaware Counties today to help our neighbors continue to have a decent place to live.

Habitat ReStores are nonprofit home improvement stores and donation centers, selling new and gently used furniture, building materials, home goods, appliances, and more to the public at a fraction of retail prices.

All proceeds support Habitat for Humanity programs in Montgomery and Delaware Counties of Pennsylvania. Here’s how: About ReStore 

West Norriton ReStore Shopping Hours:
Tuesday - Saturday: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

West Norriton ReStore Donation Drop-Off Hours:
Tuesday - Saturday : 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Horsham ReStore Shopping Hours:
Tuesday - Saturday: 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Direct Phone Number: (215) 394 - 8270

Horsham Donation Drop-Off Hours:
Tuesday - Saturday: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Donations are tax deductible. Please consult your tax professional for details.

FREE pick-up for large, qualifying donations in Montgomery and Delaware Counties. Please visit Schedule to be able to schedule yourself. For additional questions, please call 610-631-3149.

ReStore is staffed primarily by volunteers. Our amazing volunteers do everything from customer service, maintenance, repair, and merchandising to donation assistance. Individuals and groups are accepted.

Individuals can sign-up to volunteer by visiting: Volunteer

For more information, please email volunteer@habitatmontdelco.org or call 610-360-1720.