What We Do

Habitat Berks Builds

Current, Complete, and Future Projects for all of our Habitat Berks Builds.

CURRENT PROJECTS

MILTIMORE STREET #1

On August 24, 2023, Habitat for Humanity of Berks County celebrated our first home dedication on Miltimore Street! After completing 200 hours of sweat equity, Mariam was presented with the key to her home, the first of 11 Habitat houses to be built on Miltimore Street, along the Buttonwood Gateway. 

MILTIMORE STREET #2

On December 12, 2023 Habitat for Humanity of Berks County presented homeowner Christine with the keys to her home on Miltimore Street! A large crowd of supporters and well-wishers gathered to share in the joy of her home dedication. Among those in attendance was Craig Poole, General Manager of DoubleTree by Hilton Reading and longtime Habitat Berks Board Member. A staunch supporter of Habitat Berks, Craig referred Christine to the Habitat First Time Home Buyer Program. In fact, Christine is the second DoubleTree employee to become a Habitat home buyer with Craig’s guidance and encouragement. It is truly heartwarming to see an employer so invested in the well-being of his employees. Read The Reading Eagle article here.

MILTIMORE STREET #3 & #4

On April 10, 2024, we dedicated TWO new homes–a Habitat Berks first! After completing educational literacy courses, 200 hours of sweat equity, and the mortgage application process, Gilberto and Sumer were presented with the keys to their homes on Miltimore Street! We are thankful for all those who gathered to share in the joy of this meaningful celebration. Read The Reading Eagle article here.

W. BUTTONWOOD

This W Buttonwood Street property is the latest renovation in the Buttonwood Gateway.

9th and Douglass

In October of 2023, we began renovations on a house on Douglass Street. For the first time in Habitat Berks history, this house is being renovated with the help of students from Reading Muhlenberg Career & Technology Center! We are excited for this partnership, which provides real world experience for students entering the trades.

PAST PROJECTS

TRINITY LUTHERAN CHURCH

Church was a hospital during the Revolutionary War. A renowned surgeon who crossed the Delaware River with George Washington is buried on site. The church now plans to add a reception hall. Over six days, Habitat will be removing the current stage, carpet, and flooring. Work will be done at no cost to the church, which will save them about $10,000.

TULPEHOCKEN STREET

Our renovation on Tulpehocken Street followed the same concept of newly renovated homes that protect the architectural integrity of their surrounding area. These three houses were completed in 2019, and are located in an area ripe for revitalization: just down the street from Olivet’s Boys & Girls Club, blocks from Northwest Elementary School, and less than a mile from the site of our Buttonwood Gateway project.

WEST BUTTONWOOD STREET

This home was the first build of the Buttonwood Gateway Project. The three-bedroom, one and a half bath home now sports a first-floor laundry and mudroom, which is greatly appreciated by the hardworking family who lives there.

OLEY STREET

Habitat for Humanity of Berks County celebrated the accomplishments of its partner family — Roberto, Tania, and their three daughters at a dedication of their new home, located on Oley Street. This stunning Victorian-style home was completed in collaboration with the Reading Housing authority which provided up-front construction costs for the project. The family contributed more than 300 hours of “sweat equity” alongside Habitat volunteers to build their new place to call home. The family purchased the house from Habitat and repays a no-profit mortgage over a period of 30 years, demonstrating Habitat’s vision to give families a “hand up” rather than a “hand out”.

FOURTH & ELM

When a property is available, renovation and rehabilitation provide an opportunity to dramatically transform a block or neighborhood while also providing a high-quality home to a family in need of affordable housing. We cluster our new builds within focus neighborhoods to maximize impacts and, in recent years, have built primarily attached row homes that fit within the architectural history of their surroundings. Our first cluster build project at Fourth and Elm Street was a huge success and we were able to provide newly renovated homes to three hardworking families.

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