Southeast New Hampshire Habitat for Humanity

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Through shelter, we build up communities and residents of New Hampshire!

When I think of Habitat for Humanity, I think of our core mission - providing decent affordable homes to our Partner Families. Having a stable and permanent place to call home is really important to children. I personally know this well, having started life as an “army brat," going wherever my Dad's orders took us. By the time I turned four I we had lived in four different homes in four different cities - including two cities in Germany (where I was born), New Jersey and Maine. All of this moving led to a pretty pivotal point in my life.

In 1981 my parents got divorced, and we moved into the house I would call home until college. My Mom is still in that house today. Without the distraction and unrest of constantly moving my brothers and I flourished. We joined teams and clubs in school, established life-long friends and created memories that will always be with us. I will forever be thankful for the permanence that was created during such a difficult time, and the stability and security that home gave us.

It is for this very reason I chose to be involved in Habitat for Humanity. I joined the Board of Southeast NH Habitat in 2013 and have been faithfully serving the organization ever since. The best day for any Habitat chapter is the day you get to hand a Partner Family the keys to their new home. It is in that moment you know all of the hard work, events, fundraising, and volunteer hours have gone to something life changing.

This is why "I Habitat", and I invite you to do the same.

- Adam Wagner, AIA Co-Owner Market Square Architects, Portsmouth

Past President, Board of Directors

Our Program:

At SENH Habitat, we take land that is either donated or purchased by our organization and build affordable, energy efficient houses with families who otherwise might never realize the dream of owning their own home. We diligently work at our construction sites every Thursday and Saturday (year-round) and save costs by utilizing volunteers to build each home.

Typically, it takes 12-18 months to complete a new construction project. SENH Habitat partners with hard-working families whose income is above public housing guidelines, is within 30%-60% median income and who are unable to qualify for conventional mortgages. We refer to our potential homeowners as “Partner Families.” They are required to perform 250 “sweat equity hours” with our staff and volunteers by helping to build their home. Friends and family are allowed to do 100 hours of the 250 sweat equity hours to assist their loved ones.

We currently have 18 Partner Families paying a monthly 0.00% interest mortgage to our organization. These payments, in turn, go back into building more homes, meaning our Partner Families pay it forward for years to come. We hope that you will find it in your hearts to support our program. To learn more about our affordable housing program please visit our website at https://www.senhhabitat.org.    

The other aspect of our program is the SENH Habitat for Humanity Restore which is a discount home improvement donation center located in Newington, NH. The SENH ReStore is a retail outlet specifically designed for homeowners and home improvement specialists alike. From plumbing and lighting to furniture and cabinetry – our new and gently used items are available to the public at 30% to 80% below retail costs.

We are proud of the fact that for every $1.00 spent at the SENH ReStore, 1.3 lbs. of waste is diverted from a landfill. In addition, the SENH ReStore proceeds benefit SENH Habitat for Humanity’s mission of providing safe, decent, affordable, and energy-efficient housing to hard-working, low-income families in Strafford and Rockingham Counties. To learn more about the SENH ReStore please click on the link below or visit our website at http://nhrestore.org.

Thank you!

Who We Are

The State of New Hampshire (NH) and the Greater Seacoast community was introduced to Southeast NH (SENH) Habitat for Humanity in 1994, when it was founded as a 501 (c) 3, nonprofit organization; agreeing to organize and operate solely to fulfill our charitable mission which is to eliminate poverty housing in Southeast NH.
SENH Habitat for Humanity works diligently to strengthen families and communities through affordable home-ownership opportunities. We partner with corporations, like-minded community groups, faith-based organizations and individual volunteers to build and renovate simple, decent, affordable homes with hard-working people who are in need.