Habitat for Humanity Choptank welcomed six highly respected civic leaders onto its volunteer-based Board of Directors. Christine Doria, Genevra Farrare, Latasha Nichols, Dave Perry, Mike Potter, Daphan Smith and Efrain Velazquez have been ushered in and will serve together with nine other board members in an effort to further the Habitat mission by offering their hard-working dedication and time-honored talents in the service of both the Talbot and Dorchester County housing communities.

Christine Doria has a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from Clarkson University and an MBA in Finance and International Business from NYU. Christine retired as a Managing Director from JPMorgan where she was a Global Product Executive and held other senior positions that leveraged her strategic planning, leadership, and communication skills. She has a patent for her work on the development of the Equilend securities lending trading platform.  Christine has been a lifelong champion of diversity and inclusion initiatives including leadership roles in the Society of Women Engineers and JPMorgan’s Womens’ Interactive Network and Diversity Committees.  Prior to JPMorgan, she held positions at Bankers Trust and the Union Carbide Corporation.

Genevra L. Farrare has a Masters of Education, an MBA, and is currently working towards an EDD in Higher Education & Adult Learning. Genevra served as the Executive Director of the Housing Authority of Cambridge. Under her leadership, the Housing Authority of Cambridge opened and successfully operated the Victoria Jackson-Stanley Inspiration Center which began as an after-school program for elementary – high school students and advanced to a learning center for Adults that offered GED courses in partnership with Chesapeake College. Genevra has also worked in a number of management and director positions for the Department of Housing & Community Development.

Latasha S. Nichols is an incredibly knowledgeable professional with experience in Court Management, Public Administration, Criminal Justice, Human Services, and Business Management in the public and private sector. Latasha has experience in program administration, management, composing grant proposals, organizational development, leading, staffing, design and implementation of effective programs. Latasha has a Master of Science in Public Administration, a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice, and an Associates of Arts in Criminal Justice. She currently works at the State of Maryland Judiciary for Dorchester County District Court. Additionally, Ms. Nichols is a graduate of the National Center for State Courts Institute for Court Management: Certified Court Manager, Certified Court Executive, and Certified Fellows Programs. Also, Ms. Nichols is a certified instructor through the National Center for State Courts.  Ms. Nichols has earned numerous certificates and awards including the State of Maryland Governor’s Citation, Maryland State Senate Citation, and the Maryland House of Delegates Citation.

David Perry has Bachelors of Science in Chemical Engineering from Cornell University and a MBA from Oklahoma State University. His work history consists of engineering, sales, marketing, and management experience. A dedicated member of the Tuesday Construction Crew, ReStore truck crew, and the Habitat Choptank ReStore committee, Dave has been a regular Habitat Choptank volunteer since 2013.  He has also been a long-time volunteer of ShoreRivers and the Easton Club East Community Association.

Mike Potter holds a civil engineering degree from Virginia Tech and an MBA in Finance from Loyola University Maryland. He has recently retired as senior partner of a 1,400-person planning, engineering and construction management firm. Mike and his wife, Debbie, both were born and raised on the Eastern Shore and community involvement is very personal for them.  Mike’sother community involvement has included leading youth crews making home repairs for impoverished families in Western Maryland, working with organizations that support families needing shelter and addiction recovery, and serving on a number of local, state, and national boards.

Daphan P. Smith is a banking professional who’s passionate about enriching the lives of others. She is native of Talbot County and a graduate of Easton High School. Daphan and her husband Willie L. Smith Jr. reside in Trappe, Maryland and have three children and five grandchildren. Daphan began a career in banking over 40 years ago with Maryland National Bank and currently holds the position of Assistant Vice President, Assistant Manager at Bank of America Easton Financial Center. Daphan is an active dedicated member of Scotts United Methodist Church in Trappe, Maryland for over 30 years. She has been a Girl Scout troop leader and has served in various capacities for White Marsh Elementary, Talbot Partnership Board of Directors, Pickering Creek Audubon Board of Directors, Talbot County Public School Advisory Committee and Talbot County Social Service Board of Directors. Currently, she serves on The Easton District United Methodist Church Board of Trustees and Habitat Choptank Family Selection Committee.

Efrain Velazquez served in the U.S. Navy where he was consistently chosen for demanding leadership positions with an emphasis on engineering systems aboard surface ships, nuclear aircraft carriers, and submarines, as well as large building facilities. This background led to a career building and supervising all manner of industrial plant and environmental systems, including plumbing, boilers, chillers, and plant engineering energy management. He currently serves as the CEO and President of AirMaster Heating and Cooling, Inc. Efrain is married and currently resides in Easton.

The insights and aptitudes of Christine Doria, GenevraFarrare, Latasha Nichols, Dave Perry, Mike Potter, Daphan Smith, and Efrain Velazquez will be critical in furthering HabitatChoptank’s ambitious goals and mission.

Habitat Choptank will continue to work concurrently in three communities within its two county service area – Easton, St. Michaels, and Cambridge; build stronger neighborhoods through quality, sustainable new construction homes and rehabs to enhance the quality of life in local neighborhoods; and develop well-prepared home owners using right-sized financing combined with education, support and relationships pre- and post-settlement.

For information, to volunteer, or to make a donation, call 410-476-3204 or visit www.habitatchoptank.org.

About Habitat Choptank

Since 1992, Habitat Choptank has made home ownership possible for 93 families and has completed critical health and safety repairs in partnership with over 263 qualifying homeowners. At present, nine homes are under construction in Dorchester and Talbot Counties. Income qualifying homebuyers are offered access to affordable mortgage financing in order to purchase a new construction or rehabbed home from the nonprofit’s project inventory.  After completing “sweat equity” hours, attending pre-homeownership classes, and meeting debt reduction and savings goals, these individuals and families will purchase homes that they helped construct and assume the full responsibilities of homeownership including maintaining their home, paying property taxes and repaying their mortgage over 30 to 33 years. Habitat accepts applications for its homeownership and repair programs throughout the year. For more information, to make a donation that benefits our local community, or volunteer, call 410-476-3204 or visit www.HabitatChoptank.org.

The Nathan Foundation generously awarded Habitat Choptank funding for a new resource for homeowners. Habitat Choptank has created a Tool Lending Library for resident home repairs.

A recent Cambridge survey found 76% of homes in the city are over 88 years old. An aging housing stock means homeowners are challenged by a wide range of repair and maintenance tasks. Habitat Choptank Neighborhood Revitalization Manager Rhodana Fields explained, “With the right tools, there are many maintenance tasks that homeowners can perform themselves. Taking care of an issue now can save money in the short term and even more money in the long run, preventing a small issue from turning into a larger problem.”  Habitat Choptank will host repair and maintenance workshops alongside the Tool Library.

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Photo: Habitat Choptank Construction Supervisor, Dan Kurth, and Habitat Choptank AmeriCorps Volunteer, Mimi Sanford, are pictured here in front of a truck that has been retrofitted to support the Tool Lending Library through the use of funding from the Nathan Foundation to increase security and portability for the tools.

In addition to providing residents with access to tools for DIY projects and repairs, Habitat Choptank is also able to provide repair support through their Helping Hands Revolving Loan Fund, a fund that allows homeowners in the areas in which Habitat Choptank is building to make critical home and safety repairs. Income qualifying homeowners would pay back the cost of the repair on a sliding scale, based on income. Zero interest payments are spread out over time to keep the repair affordable. All the payments go back into the revolving loan fund to make it possible for the next family to make much needed repairs.

Habitat Choptank has hosted a series of Home Repair and Maintenance workshops over the past three years and reports the workshops have been well received, providing information on what repairs can be done routinely to maintain a home.  Also critical, but oftentimes a challenge to homeowners, is access to the tools needed to make the repairs.  With the support of the Nathan Foundation, Habitat can now launch the Tool Library in support of the workshops.  The Tool Library is scheduled to visit local neighborhoods over the coming months. This includes participating in the Groove City Culture Fest in Cambridge on Saturday, August 21^st, and the BAAM Block Party on Saturday, August 28^th, in Easton. Habitat Choptank will be supported by volunteers at these events to help answer questions and demonstrate how to complete tasks, including replacing a torn screen, patching holes in drywall or plaster, selecting paint for indoor and outdoor use, and other handy tasks. Checking out tools will be via a sign-in and sign-out system, providing proof of address, and contact information.

Since 2007, the Nathan Foundation has generously supported Habitat Choptank’s work in Dorchester County. Habitat Choptank is very grateful to have received funding from the Nathan Foundation in 2018 to replace stolen tools from their tool trailer in Hurlock as well as to purchase security cameras to deter future theft.  They also received funding in 2019 for the purchase of dump trailers and scaffolding to support the increase in the number of houses being built, which went from four in FY18 to eight in FY20.

About Habitat Choptank

Since 1992, Habitat Choptank has made home ownership possible for 93 families and has completed critical health and safety repairs in partnership with over 263 qualifying homeowners. At present, seven homes are under construction in Dorchester and Talbot Counties. Income qualifying homebuyers are offered access to affordable mortgage financing in order to purchase a new construction or rehabbed home from the nonprofit’s project inventory.  After completing “sweat equity” hours, attending pre-homeownership classes, and meeting debt reduction and savings goals, these individuals and families will purchase homes that they helped construct and assume the full responsibilities of homeownership including maintaining their home, paying property taxes and repaying their mortgage over 30 to 33 years. Habitat accepts applications for its homeownership and repair programs throughout the year. For more information, to make a donation that benefits our local community, or volunteer, call 410-476-3204 or visit www.HabitatChoptank.org.

Habitat for Humanity Choptank celebrated their 93rd Home Dedication on Thursday, July 1st in St. Michaels. Family, friends, Habitat homebuyers, board members, staff, and volunteers gathered on Brooks Lane to celebrate.

The home dedicated is one of seven Habitat Choptank new, affordable, and energy efficient homes built on Brooks Lane and the first modular Habitat home. Habitat for Humanity Choptank celebrated the groundbreaking of the seven-home neighborhood in September of 2018. This project would not have been possible without the generous donation of property by the Dodson family; the additional support provided by the estate of Robert and Beverly Wolffe; and the collaboration among Habitat Choptank and Maryland’s Department of Housing and Community Development, Maryland’s Affordable Housing Trust, Bay 100 Churches, Talbot County, and the Town of St. Michaels.

Among those who helped support this dedication were, Joyce Harrod, Commissioner of St. Michaels, the Town of St. Michaels’s Police Chief Smith, and William Wallace, Pastor of Union United Methodist Church. The Rotary Club of Easton, represented by Patti Willis, donated a toolbox and the Habitat Choptank ReStore presented a gift certificate. Refreshments were provided by the Town of St. Michaels in celebration of all of the Habitat homebuyers on Brooks Lane.

Habitat Choptank Client Services Manager Pat Ingram shared, “We are so grateful for the support from the Town of St. Michaels and are excited to see more local families become homebuyers in this wonderful community.”

Habitat homebuyers assume the full responsibilities of homeownership which include repaying their mortgage, maintaining their home, and paying homeowner’s insurance and property taxes. Along with these responsibilities also comes a sense of pride and accomplishment of owning a home.

Thank you to all the volunteers, donors, and partners who helped make homeownership a reality for this family.

For more information, to make a donation that benefits our local community, or volunteer, call 410-476-3204 or visit www.HabitatChoptank.org.  Consider joining our Carpenter’s Club, donate for every house we build, and know that you have helped every family Habitat Choptank serves.

About Habitat Choptank

Since 1992, Habitat Choptank has made home ownership possible for 93 families and has completed critical health and safety repairs in partnership with over 263 qualifying homeowners. At present, seven homes are under construction in Dorchester and Talbot Counties. Income qualifying homebuyers are offered access to affordable mortgage financing in order to purchase a new construction or rehabbed home from the nonprofit’s project inventory.  After completing “sweat equity” hours, attending pre-homeownership classes, and meeting debt reduction and savings goals, these individuals and families will purchase homes that they helped construct and assume the full responsibilities of homeownership including maintaining their home, paying property taxes and repaying their mortgage over 30 to 33 years. Habitat accepts applications for its homeownership and repair programs throughout the year. For more information, to make a donation that benefits our local community, or volunteer, call 410-476-3204 or visit www.HabitatChoptank.org.

Habitat for Humanity Choptank has a vision for a world where everyone has a decent place to live. That vision is not just a roof and four walls. That ‘place to live’ is in a community that supports each other, a world that values its people as each made in the image of God. A member of our community shares that vision and has offered a way to maximize Habitat’s impact with a promise and a challenge. Now through July 31st, a generous donor has pledged to match dollar-for-dollar all gifts that come in up to $50,000.

This past year, many families have faced unprecedented challenges during the pandemic. Plans have been placed on hold as families struggle to recover what has been lost and rebuild their dreams for the future.  The rising costs of land, labor and materials have created an even greater shortage of affordable housing.

An affordable home means a family can cover housing costs and still be able to provide for life’s other necessities:  food, health care, transportation, education.  A decent home means a high quality, low maintenance and energy-efficient home, one that is safe, and can safeguard a family’s health, proving easier and less costly to maintain over time. Habitat Choptank is working to ensure that more individuals and families in our community have decent, safe, and affordable places to call home.

Gifts to Habitat Choptank can help ensure that more families have access to the transformational opportunity of homeownership and build a sense of unity and community. All gifts made during the month of July will be matched up to $50,000.

For more information, to make a donation that benefits our local community, or volunteer, call 410-476-3204 or visit www.HabitatChoptank.org.

About Habitat Choptank

Since 1992, Habitat Choptank has made home ownership possible for 93 families and has completed critical health and safety repairs in partnership with over 263 qualifying homeowners. At present, seven homes are under construction in Dorchester and Talbot Counties. Income qualifying homebuyers are offered access to affordable mortgage financing in order to purchase a new construction or rehabbed home from the nonprofit’s project inventory.  After completing “sweat equity” hours, attending pre-homeownership classes, and meeting debt reduction and savings goals, these individuals and families will purchase homes that they helped construct and assume the full responsibilities of homeownership including maintaining their home, paying property taxes and repaying their mortgage over 30 to 33 years. Habitat accepts applications for its homeownership and repair programs throughout the year. For more information, to make a donation that benefits our local community, or volunteer, call 410-476-3204 or visit www.HabitatChoptank.org.

Together, Lowe’s and Habitat for Humanity built International Women Build Week on a foundation of strength, resilience and perseverance. This year’s virtual events will kick off on International Women’s Day, March 8, and conclude on March 15.

Habitat and Lowe’s have partnered to provide tools for women to empower and educate themselves on skills used when repairing and restoring homes. By using the hashtag #BuildHer to share inspirational stories, experiences and ways to positively impact communities, Habitat and Lowe’s are uniting women for a central goal of encouraging and building each other up.

A global event, International Women Build Week focuses on raising awareness of the challenges women face in accessing safe, affordable housing. Women Build events provide the opportunity for women to take a proactive step in serving their communities as well as a terrific way to involve friends and family of all ages in crucial work with a lasting impact. While there will not be onsite build projects this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic and there is no substitute for swinging a hammer, Habitat Choptank invites you to join them for their Virtual Women Build Week.

Mary Ellen Bauer, Habitat Choptank Board Member and Repair Crew volunteer shared the following about the women who inspire her to build: “Sandy Holicky, Terri Spence, Pam Martinson, and Sandy Wrightson are essential volunteers I have had the privilege of becoming friends with, while volunteering with the Home Repair Crew in Cambridge…They share endless hours of their time, unlimited supplies of tools, and have even purchased much needed equipment on job sites and donated them to Habitat. As an adult woman, these women are helping me to ground myself in my belief that sharing my time and my resources are so important for the betterment of this community.”

You can view Habitat Choptank’s DIY videos which will be shared via social media and on their website throughout Women Build Week. These videos will teach new skills that can be utilized at home on DIY projects and hopefully down the road on future Habitat builds. Video topics include installing flooring, fire safety tips, and watching a room be transformed with prep, paint, and wallpaper.

You can also show your support online. Share why you support Habitat Choptank on International Women’s Day using the #BuildHer hashtag and tag Habitat Choptank. You may also donate to Habitat Choptank in honor of an influential woman in your life and get a limited edition Women Build t-shirt! Please visit https://www.habitatchoptank.org for more information about how you can get involved.

About Habitat Choptank

Since 1992, Habitat Choptank has made home ownership possible for 90 families and has completed critical health and safety repairs in partnership with over 185 qualifying homeowners. At present, 9 homes are under construction in Dorchester and Talbot Counties. Income qualifying homebuyers are offered access to affordable mortgage financing in order to purchase a new construction or rehabbed home from the nonprofit’s project inventory. After completing “sweat equity” hours, attending pre-homeownership classes, and meeting debt reduction and savings goals, these individuals and families will purchase homes that they helped construct and assume the full responsibilities of homeownership including maintaining their home, paying property taxes and repaying their mortgage over 30 to 33 years. Habitat accepts applications for its homeownership and repair programs throughout the year. For more information, for information about the Habitat Choptank ReStore, to make a donation that benefits our local community, or volunteer, call 410-476- 3204 or visit www.HabitatChoptank.org.

About Lowe’s in the Community

Lowe’s has supported the communities where its associates live and work for more than 70 years. As a FORTUNE®50 home improvement company, Lowe’s is committed to creating safe, affordable housing and helping to develop the next generation of skilled trade experts through nonprofit partnerships. Across every community we serve, Lowe’s associates donate their time and expertise through the Lowe’s Heroes volunteer program. For the latest news, visit Newsroom.Lowes.com or follow @LowesMedia on Twitter.

Last week, Habitat for Humanity International hosted hundreds of local Habitat organizations and home affordability advocates for their annual legislative conference, held virtually for the first time: Habitat on the Hill 2021: For home, from home.

The three-day event, normally held in Washington, D.C., gave advocates an opportunity to convene with congressional leaders, address and discuss actionable solutions to the underlying policies and systems that hinder access to housing affordability, and rally with one another.

Through the Cost of Home campaign, Habitat for Humanity’s first U.S. advocacy campaign, Habitat Choptank has joined local Habitat organizations across the U.S. to help tackle the exacerbated housing stability and affordability challenges in our communities. Over 18 million U.S. households were paying half or more of their income on housing before the COVID-19 pandemic. Home affordability challenges have only been further exacerbated by COVID-19. Habitat on the Hill focused heavily on historic and systemic racism in housing policy, and how the pandemic’s economic disparities have created a critical need for immediate and long-term housing relief.

Habitat Choptank will reach out to members of Congress to urge them to invest in housing affordability as part of any future economic recovery and infrastructure measure by prioritizing foreclosure prevention, neighborhood revitalization and housing production for low-income homeowners. These investments are critical for preventing major losses in homeownership and in wealth for communities of color, as well as expanding access to new affordable homes for all.

You can join Habitat Choptank and hundreds of housing advocates in calling on Congress to invest in housing affordability and neighborhood revitalization. The COVID-19 pandemic has only exacerbated existing needs, so the time to act is now.

For more information about what Habitat for Humanity Choptank is doing in our local community, to make a donation, for information on the Habitat Choptank ReStore, or to volunteer, call 410-476-3204 or visit www.HabitatChoptank.org.

About Habitat Choptank

Since 1992, Habitat Choptank has made home ownership possible for 90 families and has completed critical health and safety repairs in partnership with over 185 qualifying homeowners. At present, 9 homes are under construction in Dorchester and Talbot Counties. Income qualifying homebuyers are offered access to affordable mortgage financing in order to purchase a new construction or rehabbed home from the nonprofit’s project inventory.  After completing “sweat equity” hours, attending pre-homeownership classes, and meeting debt reduction and savings goals, these individuals and families will purchase homes that they helped construct and assume the full responsibilities of homeownership including maintaining their home, paying property taxes and repaying their mortgage over 30 to 33 years. Habitat accepts applications for its homeownership and repair programs throughout the year. For more information, for information about the Habitat Choptank ReStore, to make a donation that benefits our local community, or volunteer, call 410-476-3204 or visit www.HabitatChoptank.org.