Supporting Employees Through Permanently Affordable Homeownership
Across East Jefferson County, employers are confronting a shared reality. Housing costs have risen far beyond what many working households can reasonably afford, even for full-time, long-tenured employees who are essential to daily operations.
For many households in our area, purchasing a market-rate home now requires incomes well beyond what a wide range of employees earn, once down payments, interest rates, and monthly costs are considered. People who are reliable, committed, and deeply invested in their organizations can still find homeownership entirely out of reach.
Habitat for Humanity of East Jefferson County is responding to this challenge by expanding access to permanently affordable homeownership. Through both long-standing and newly launched programs, Habitat helps employees across income levels build stability, put down roots, and remain part of the communities where they live and work.
A new response to a growing need: The Habitat Extended Homeownership Program
To meet the realities of today’s housing market, Habitat for Humanity of East Jefferson County has created the Extended Homeownership Program, an entirely new pathway designed for households who earn too much to qualify for traditional affordable housing but still cannot realistically buy a market-rate home locally.
The Extended Program expands the traditional model of Habitat homeownership to serve a broader range of incomes, supporting households earning approximately 80 to 150 percent of area median income, depending on household size. Homes in the Extended Program are permanently affordable, with resale restrictions that protect long-term affordability for future buyers.
Extended Homeownership Program homes are located in the Mason Street neighborhood in Port Hadlock and are limited to a total of 59 homes. This program represents a significant expansion of Habitat’s impact and a direct response to the current housing pressures facing our community.
Our core homeownership program remains essential
Alongside the Extended Program, Habitat continues its Core Homeownership Program, which serves households earning approximately 40 to 80 percent of area median income. This program remains the foundation of Habitat’s work and represents the majority of homes we build.
Together, these two programs allow Habitat for Humanity of East Jefferson County to support working households across a wide range of incomes, helping more people access stable, affordable homes and strengthening our region as a place where employees can stay, grow, and contribute long term.
Why this matters to employers
Housing stability is directly tied to recruitment, retention, and employee well-being. When employees are able to live in the communities where they work, organizations benefit from continuity, reduced turnover, stronger engagement, and deeper local roots.
By partnering with Habitat, employers can help employees access affordable homeownership opportunities while demonstrating a tangible commitment to long-term community health and stability.
What Habitat offers employer partners
Habitat takes the lead in connecting employers and employees with clear, accessible homeownership opportunities. Our role is to make participation easy, supportive, and low-lift for employers.
- Ready-to-use, employee-friendly materials that explain Habitat homeownership programs and application steps
- On-site or virtual lunch-and-learn sessions and staff presentations hosted by Habitat
- Printed and digital assets, including flyers, small-format materials, and shareable content
- Materials with QR codes and guidance from Habitat on placing or sharing them in spaces employees already use, both physical and digita
There is no cost to employers to participate in any of these partnership offerings.
Start the conversation
Employers interested in supporting employees through affordable homeownership are encouraged to connect with Habitat for Humanity of East Jefferson County. A brief conversation is often the first step toward making a meaningful, lasting difference for both employees and the community as a whole.