Every home we build is more than lumber, nails, and paint. It is a shared effort that brings people together with a common purpose. Our mission centers on building homes, building community, and building hope. Volunteers are at the heart of that mission.

When community comes together on a build site, they are not only helping construct a house; they are helping create a sense of belonging around that future home. Each project strengthens the ties between neighbors and reminds us that we are all part of something bigger. The families who will one day live in these homes are not strangers. They are our neighbors, our coworkers, our friends in the making.

Join us to build for a day

For those who want to support this work but cannot commit to several full days of volunteering, we offer build opportunities that make it easy to get involved. It is a chance to do good together, even with a busy schedule.

We organize some of these build days, and you can sign up by yourself or with a group of friends. More information about this year’s Veterans Build, Pride Build and Women Build days is coming soon!

You can also gather your community and sign up for a day of building. A wide variety of groups sign up for a Group Build day, from civic and faith organizations to local businesses and circles of friends who want to make a difference together.

Your group, from 3 to 15 volunteers, can sign up for a full day or a half day. Join in with our regular construction volunteers, or see about scheduling an exclusive build day.

Group build days always include food and a T-shirt to show our appreciation for your hard work. Of course, the real reward is knowing you are part of a growing tradition of kindness and community that takes shape with every home we raise.

Gather your group and sign up!

Community groups are already signing up! A happy shout out to OCEAN School’s juniors and seniors, and the Jefferson County Association of Realtors!

When you and your group are ready, call or email Amy, Manager of Volunteer Engagement, to learn more and reserve your time. You can reach Amy at 360-379-2827 or volunteer@habitatejc.org.

Together, we are creating more than houses. We are creating community and hope that will last for generations.

Photos: Rotary Club of Port Townsend members at their group build, September of 2025

Top photo collage, clockwise from left: Jenny's Birthday Build, family and friends joining Jenny at Cliff St. Cottages (where Jenny now lives!); the Kitsap Bank group build; Jenny's Birthday Build; Kitsap Bank group build

Photos: StudioSTL staff participating in their group build, June of 2025. StudioSTL designed the Cliff Street Cottages community!

At the first home dedication ceremony for Cliff Street this past January, one of StudioSTL's staff members shared how meaningful it was for them to be part of the design team, contribute time building, and then be at the dedication to see the families receive the keys for their new homes. Our mission in action: bringing people together to build homes, communities and hope!

Habitat's Critical Home Repair Program continuously accepts applications for repair projects throughout East Jefferson County.

The repairs we undertake help residents remain safely in their homes while preserving the stability of our community.

As the need for critical repairs in our vicinity continues to grow, we’re excited to welcome a new team member dedicated to this work. Brian Bochat has joined Habitat as our Repair Specialist. You’ll find him out in the field, working hands-on with our repair households and serving as a key point of connection between repair households and Habitat.

Brian brings a wide range of experience to the role. His background includes commercial fishing in Alaska, house flipping, and most recently, running his own contracting business, Bochat Heritage Homes. Outside of work, he’s an avid gardener—pictured to the right with his latest onion harvest! Brian shares that helping others gives him a strong sense of purpose, and he’s excited to start assisting folks as a part of the Habitat team.

If you are a homeowner having trouble making necessary repairs, we may be able to help. Visit habitatejc.org/repair-a-home/ and schedule a repair program orientation with us. We would love to connect with you.

Did you know Habitat hosts monthly Homebuyer Education classes for Homebuyers in our program?

Our Homebuyer Education program provides practical skills in areas including home safety and maintenance, insurance, and mortgage management, all while fostering a space for those in our program to build community with future neighbors.

While Habitat hosts these sessions, most are facilitated by volunteers from community organizations such as East Jefferson Fire Rescue, the Jefferson County Master Gardener Foundation, Local 20/20 and more. We also invite current Habitat Homeowners to some sessions to provide guidance from the perspective of someone who’s already bought a Habitat Home.

One class entitled “How Your Community Works” is often hosted by Port Townsend’s City Manager. It covers a variety of topics, including civic engagement, the ins and outs of navigating public city services, and right-of-way shared spaces — areas like the grassy strip between a sidewalk and the street where the city can use the land, but the homeowner is expected to maintain it.

Our goal in offering these classes is to empower families to navigate the complexities of homeownership. By investing time in education now, our homeowners are set up for lasting success.

Interested in learning more about Habitat’s Homeownership Program? Visit our website at habitatejc.org/homes/