“I thought Habitat houses were free.”

A recent conversation with an occasional ReStore customer brought home the need to continue informing the public about the Habitat for Humanity homeowner application process. Many may be under the impression that Habitat provides homes free of charge to applicants. In fact, homeowners undergo a rigorous application process, agree to volunteer significant – “sweat equity” …

Affordable and safe housing is hard to come by

This story from NPR illustrates some of the challenges facing low-income families in finding affordable housing: LaToya Fowlkes is standing outside rent court in Baltimore. A judge has just ruled that Fowlkes has to pay her landlord $4,900 in rent and fees despite her complaints that the house has leaky water pipes, chipped paint, rodents …