Get Involved with Habitat MV

Habitat for Humanity of Martha's Vineyard, a proud Community Partner of the MVBA, is an affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International. Since its inception in 1996, Habitat MV has built 13 homes and are in the process of building numbers 14 and 15. 

This non-profit organization is driven by their mission to build simple, high quality, and perpetually affordable housing for families in the lowest qualifying income range. These homes are built by volunteers with donated materials, and charitable donations. Habitat MV works with the Island towns, and conservation agencies to recycle building materials and home furnishings which supports their commitment to sustainable building.

Habitat MV is currently building two single family homes in Oak Bluffs with land and funding supplied by the Oak Bluffs Affordable Housing Committee and the generous people of Oak Bluffs. To complete these two projects, Habitat MV is seeking assistance from volunteers with talents in carpentry, landscaping, sheetrocking, plumbing, and painting. Also, Habitat MV is seeking donations of exterior doors, fixtures, lighting, windows, and new appliances. Neither home will be heated by fossil fuels and both will be LEED certified. 

You may be asking yourself “how can I help?”. There are various ways to support the efforts of Habitat MV. If you are unable to volunteer or donate new appliances, the organization is also expanding the harvesting of recyclable materials program. Habitat MV can find a home for many of the extra or lightly used material from construction projects. Items including tile, trim, hardware, fixtures, etc. are collected by Habitat MV to be donated or sold locally to benefit Island families. Though something may be of no use on your current project, it may be a perfectly good fit for one of Habitat MV’s ongoing or future projects.

Habitat MV is also looking for a site to expand storage of donated recyclables. There is a waitlist for those in need of used or lower-cost building materials or appliances. As Habitat collects these donations, they require a storage area where Islanders may pick-up these donations. If you know of a vacant space that may work, please consider Habitat MV and contact them for more information.

Both organizations would like to acknowledge the MVBA members who are already making a big impact with their donations of surplus donation building materials to Habitat MV. Your participation, generosity, and support of your community, is a part of the success of Habitat MV.

The partnership between Habitat MV and MVBA could not be better aligned with their strong focus on the trades. Greg Orcutt of Habitat MV says the collaboration with our trades and design community is key to the success of the organization. "Our partnership with the MVBA provides valuable support to the mission of Habitat MV which is to bring people together to build homes for Island families and strengthen our community. Secure housing can be a huge hurdle for many of us, and as Islanders we know all too well the challenge of entering the housing market. We appreciate any assistance from the MVBA and the building community to work together for this shared goal of helping our neighbors."

For more information on how to be involved contact Greg Orcutt at (508)280-3068 or orcuttgreg@gmail.com

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