News & Stories
Stay connected with everything happening at Habitat for Humanity of East Jefferson County.
Here you’ll find our construction milestones, homeowner stories, and updates on our work to build permanently affordable homes in Port Townsend, Port Hadlock, and across our community. Check back often—or sign up for our newsletter—to follow every step as we bring neighbors together to build homes, communities, and hope.
A Community Vision Begins to Take Shape
Ground has officially been broken on the Mason Street Neighborhood, marking a major milestone in a vision that has been years in the making. What began nearly five years ago as a community conversation about affordable homeownership is now becoming reality. As the...
Landes Terrace Dedication Celebrates New Homeowners and a Growing Community
On July 29, Habitat for Humanity of East Jefferson County celebrated the first two homeowners in Landes Terrace, our largest neighborhood development to date. When complete, the neighborhood will include 14 homes across seven paired buildings, creating new...
The Habitat Store Celebrates a Record-Breaking Year
The Habitat Store has plenty to celebrate! This fiscal year the store blew past its sales goal and came very close to reaching its stretch goal. June, the last month of the fiscal year, was the store's biggest sales month ever. Together, these achievements pushed the...
Celebrating a New Chapter for Paul and Oceana
Home dedications are always meaningful ceremonies at Habitat for Humanity. They bring together homeowners, volunteers, neighbors, and supporters to celebrate the journey to homeownership and the strength of community. On Friday, June 26, that spirit was on full...
Cliff Street Cottages – a Photo Story
A New Beginning In October 2024, Habitat for Humanity of East Jefferson County broke ground on its first cottage-style neighborhood, a six-home community designed to bring neighborsclose, while giving each family a place of their own.Breaking Ground At the...
How a Tennessee tornado shaped a life of giving
Ann Testerman presenting Derrick the keys to his new home while Bill and their daughter Shelly Randall look on. Derrick in his new home, with family members and Bill and Ann Testerman.On the evening of March 5, 1955, eleven-year-old Bill Testerman watched his home...
Helping Employees Live Where They Work
Across East Jefferson County, employers are confronting a shared reality.
Nepal – Our 2025 Impact
Habitat’s vision is a world where everyone has a decent place to live.
Landes Terrace Groundbreaking
The Landes Terrace groundbreaking marked the beginning of something extraordinary.
Habitat Appreciation Party – 2025
A joyful evening of connection and appreciationOn September 3rd, Habitat for Humanity of East Jefferson County hosted a party to honor the very heart of our work: our dedicated volunteers and community supporters. Whether building on the jobsite, welcoming shoppers in...
Ram Maya, one of the first female masons in her Nepalese community
Through Habitat Nepal’s masonry training, Ram Maya became one of the first female masons in her community When the 2015 earthquake destroyed her home, Ram Maya was left widowed, raising three children in temporary shelter. She felt overwhelmed. But with the...
Malachi 3:10 Award
Malachi 3:10 AwardHabitat Recognized with Prestigious AwardAt the 2024 Habitat for Humanity International conference, Habitat for Humanity of East Jefferson County was presented with the Malachi 3:10 Award. The award is named for the Bible verse that reads “Bring the...
2024 Affiliate Conference – Atlanta, GA
Habitat EJC in Atlanta, GA March 4-7 Habitat EJC was well represented at the recent Habitat for Humanity (HFHI) Affiliate Conference in Atlanta, GA. Three board members, Brian Cullin, Nils Pedersen, and David Rinn joined seven staff members (Jamie, Amy, Bob, Julie,...
Habitat for Humanity of East Jefferson and Clallam Counties are on Capitol Hill seeking increased funding for Affordable Housing
Help make the #CostOfHome something we all can afford Today, hundreds of local Habitat organizations and advocates are in Washington, D.C. this week for the fifth and final year of the Cost of Home campaign, calling upon congressional leaders for continued policy...
State Awards $10,633,911 for Affordable Housing to Jefferson County Projects
PORT TOWNSEND (Jan 26, 2024) - The State’s Department of Commerce Housing Trust Fund is investing $312.6 million in affordable housing and homeownership opportunities for Washington residents with low incomes. Among the recipients are three nonprofit organizations...
Habitat unveils layouts for Port Hadlock development
Master plan expected in May PORT HADLOCK — Habitat for Humanity of East Jefferson County unveiled preliminary plans for the neighborhood they hope to build in Port Hadlock once the sewer there is expanded. At a community meeting at the Jefferson County Library in Port...
Habitat hires for Port Hadlock project – Two firms needed for housing effort
PORT HADLOCK — Habitat for Humanity of East Jefferson County has announced the hiring of two firms to help them move into the next stages of their planned community in Port Hadlock, where the group homes to build more than 100 affordable homes. “We’ve been talking...
Habitat EJC Planning Team Meets with Community for Mason Street
Habitat for Humanity of East Jefferson County’s planning team met with community members on Dec. 12 at the Jefferson County Public Library in Port Hadlock to update the community and listen to input for the planned affordable housing development that will be located...
Habitat EJC Assembles National Team for Permanently Affordable Community
PORT TOWNSEND (Dec 8, 2023) - Habitat for Humanity of East Jefferson County (Habitat EJC) has selected two acclaimed firms for project management and architectural design to help lead the effort in designing and planning a permanently affordable, mixed single and...
Green Space, Affordable Housing, and an Apology: An Open Letter from the Executive Director
Habitat for Humanity of East Jefferson County increasingly finds itself caught in the middle of the current debate on preserving “green space” in the face of an affordable housing crisis. The issue has become more immediate and intense as Habitat steps up its response...
State Commerce Director visits East Jefferson Habitat
A Habitat for Humanity development in Port Townsend received a visit from state-level officials on Friday, Nov. 17, a day after millions of dollars in grants were announced. The grants are intended to help meet statewide needs for affordable housing across all income...
The hidden factors of affordable housing
Last year, Habitat EJC and the Jefferson Community Foundation (JCF) joined forces to buy a 17-acre plot of land in Port Hadlock. WA. Recently, Habitat for Humanity International chose three affiliates out of 1,100 to present their innovative approaches to meeting the...
Habitat EJC Marks 25 Years in 2023
Habitat For Humanity of East Jefferson County celebrated one of six “permanently affordable” attached homes on Sept. 21. The celebration doubled as East Jefferson Habitat’s 25th anniversary, chapter Board Director Brian Cullin noted. “As of next week, we will have...
To Mason Street and Beyond
Last year, Habitat EJC and the Jefferson Community Foundation (JCF) joined forces to buy a 17-acre plot of land in Port Hadlock. WA. Recently, Habitat for Humanity International chose three affiliates out of 1,100 to present their innovative approaches to meeting the...
Landes North 2022 – 2023
Six Homes Completed in a Year! In early 2022, we first shared the exciting news that Habitat EJC had bought land at Landes and 18th Streets in Port Townsend and would be developing six permanently affordable homes. Permanent affordability means that even if the...
August is National Make a Will Month
5 Reasons to Make a Will Making a will is a prudent decision for everyone, regardless of age or wealth. Planning and supplying clear instructions ensure that your wishes are carried out exactly as you want and offer peace of mind to your loved ones during challenging...
How does the June 29 Supreme Court Ruling on Affirmative Action affect affordable housing?
Please read the statement issued by Habitat for Humanity International CEO Jonathan Reckford following the statement regarding the June 29 Supreme Court ruling on affirmative action: "We see every day the crucial role both stable housing and education play in...
Habitat premiers new development in Port Townsend
Habitat for Humanity of East Jefferson County opened the doors Saturday for people to see its most recent housing development in Port Townsend. The group of six houses are nearing completion, with only finishing work left to complete in five of the units. One house...
Special Housing Forum
Jamie Maciejewski, Executive Director of Habitat for Humanity of East Jefferson County was recently one of two co-hosts at a Special Housing Forum at the Local 20/20 Connectivity Fair for a conversation with a dozen local housing organizations about collaborating/...
Port Hadlock Airfield – Mason Street
Habitat EJC envisions a permanently affordable community on the old airstrip at Cedar and Mason Streets in Port Hadlock. Occasionally, we will be sending email updates about what's happening. And we will post information on our website as well. If you would like to be...