Together We Build

Introduction to Habitat, our mission, thank you for connecting with us and lead into other ways to engage (below).

Get to Know Us

Our Vision

A world where everyone has a decent place to live.

Volunteer building a home
Volunteer

Whether you’re volunteering solo or with a group, Habitat offers meaningful ways to impact your community.

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Enabling Equitable Access to Land
Advocate

Join us to amplify the voice for affordable housing, empowering residents to guide local development and land use decisions–ensuring they reflect the needs of the community.

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Volunteers building a home
Make a Gift

Your generosity can create lasting change: find the perfect way to support Habitat’s affordable housing initiatives.

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What We Do

Learn about our programs, what we do, and how it works.

Homebuyer Program

A mom with two children

We partner with local families to build or renovate quality, affordable houses that are purchased with an affordable mortgage. In addition to their monthly payments, future homeowners invest their own Volunteer Hours into the construction of their home and the community.

Critical Home Repair Program

Ruby Adams, Critical Home Repair recipient

This program provides essential interior and exterior repairs to help current homeowners—often seniors or veterans—alleviate health and safety concerns. By addressing issues like roofing, HVAC, and accessibility, we ensure long-term residents can remain safely in their homes.

Existing Homes Program

We increase the local inventory of affordable housing by purchasing and professionally renovating existing homes. Once restored to high standards of energy efficiency and safety, these houses are sold to qualified buyers on the open market.

ReStores and Julia's

Pineville ReStore edited

Our work is powerfully supported by our two retail fundraising arms: the seven Charlotte Region ReStores and Julia’s Cafe & Books.

The ReStores are more than a place to find amazing deals on new and gently-used furniture, appliances, home décor, and building materials; they are a direct line to building stability! As a vital fundraising arm, 100% of the proceeds from our seven ReStore locations and online store are used to help build and repair homes in our community.

Adding to this legacy is Julia’s Cafe & Books, named after Habitat Charlotte Region’s first volunteer Executive Director, Julia Maulden. Julia was instrumental in the organization’s founding, worked on the first Habitat home, and helped bring President Jimmy Carter to Charlotte for one of the first Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Work Projects. The café honors her commitment to community daily as a gathering space and additional source of mission support.

FAQs

Find answers to commonly asked questions.

Are there any age requirements for construction volunteering?

Volunteers under the age of 14 can visit our youth and young adult page for possible opportunities:

Student & Young Professionals

ReStore Volunteers must be at least 14 years old. ReStore volunteers under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult. 

ReStore groups containing volunteers under 18 must have one adult present for every 6 youth volunteers  

Construction Volunteers must be at least 16 years old. Some roles may require volunteers to be 18 or older due to safety or legal restrictions. Age requirements will be clearly stated for each opportunity. 

Parents of minors must sign the additional minor release waiver.

What restrictions are there for 16- and 17-year-old volunteers?
  • Cannot work at heights or on elevated surfaces 
  • Cannot use power tools or certain equipment 
  • Cannot participate in tasks involving demolition, hazardous materials, or confined spaces 
  • A parent or guardian must sign an additional minor release waiver for any volunteer under 18. 
Do minors (individuals under the age of 18) need to volunteer with an adult?

All minors (individuals under the age of 18) who volunteer in our ReStores must volunteer with a parent or guardian 21+. If you are 16 years or older and are volunteering at a construction site, you do not need to have a parent or guardian.

Do I need previous experience to volunteer?

Not at all! Prior experience can be helpful but isn’t required. All volunteer opportunities include any necessary training or guidance on-site, so you’ll be supported throughout your shift. 

Are volunteer shifts held rain or shine?

Unless you’re notified otherwise via email by a staff member (typically by early morning on the day of your shift), plan to volunteer regardless of weather conditions. Staff often adjust tasks to accommodate changes in the weather. 

What kind of tasks do volunteers typically do?

Tasks vary widely depending on the role or location. Descriptions of specific tasks are provided for each volunteer opportunity when reviewing the task on our website.  

What if I can’t commit to a full-day shift?

We have half-day volunteer options available at any of our Charlotte Region ReStore locations and Julia’s Café & Books. Head over to the Charlotte Region Restore site to see how you can get involved.  

There are also three-hour volunteer shifts on occasional Book Drives through Julia’s Café. Read more about Book Drives on the Individual Volunteer Opportunities page. 

    What should I wear to volunteer?

    Please wear comfortable, casual clothes that you can work in and don’t mind getting dirty. 

    • Shoes – Comfortable closed toe shoes. No flip flops, sandals, wedges, heels, slides or other open toed shoes. If you arrive with inappropriate footwear, you will not be permitted to work that day. 
    • Pants – Shorts or pants are allowed on both our construction sites and in the ReStore! Choose to wear pants or shorts based on your comfort level and the projected weather conditions.  
    • Outerwear (jacket, sweatshirt, raincoat, etc.) – Many tasks will require you to be outside, or in a backroom with open doors, so cold/rainy weather may be a factor. 
    Do I need to bring any tools or equipment?

    All necessary tools or supplies will be provided. If you’d prefer to use your own equipment (like gloves), you’re welcome to bring it—just be sure to label personal items with your name. 

    Will food and water be provided?

    Drinking water is available at volunteer sites. Please bring a refillable water bottle. Meals are not typically provided unless otherwise noted. You’re welcome to bring your own lunch, go off-site during the break, or have something delivered. 

    I'm having trouble signing up to volunteer online. What should I do?

    Try the following: 

    • Use an up-to-date browser like Chrome, Firefox, or Safari 
    • Avoid using a shared email address that may already be registered 
    Why hasn’t my volunteer hour total updated?

    There may be a delay in logging hours, especially if they’re entered manually. For certain shifts (e.g., at donation centers or stores), staff may need to verify and adjust entries from electronic sign-ins. 

    I've registered to volunteer, where can I access the necessary waiver?
    Still have questions?

    Contact us for further assistance.

    Contact