Office Closure

Our administrative office in Chapel Hill will continue to be closed to outside visitors until further notice as we continue to encourage our staff to work remotely as much as possible. Our team remains committed to our mission and keeping operations as normal as possible during this time.

Construction Site Reopening

We are looking forward to seeing volunteers onsite soon, and we are taking every precaution to be able to do so safely. Our top priority is always the health and wellbeing of our staff, homeowners, and volunteers. Below you can read over our multi-tiered plan to keep people safe and healthy while onsite. For each phase below, there is a rigorous cleaning schedule for all tools and equipment which will be posted onsite for the public to view. Everyone onsite will wear masks with the option to gloves. We ask that volunteers bring their own masks.

We are continuously monitoring the data and projections in North Carolina to ensure the safety of our staff, homeowners, and volunteers. If we need to make any adjustments in accordance with the latest health updates, or in compliance with state or local guidelines, we will announce those changes.Timelines and policies are subject to change.

Phase One (tentatively July 1)

Specially trained volunteers will be invited back on site to pilot building and social distance protocols. A maximum of 6 people, including staff, are permitted on each site. If the site is indoors, only one person will work inside each unit.

Phase Two (TBD)

All other groups (examples include faith organizations, corporate, youth, etc.) who help fund and build Habitat homes will be invited to site. Individuals who would like to volunteer will be able to sign up on a first-come, first served basis. A maximum of 10 people, including staff, are permitted on each site.

Safety protocols

Safety is always one of the most important aspects of building with Habitat. Volunteers who do not comply with safety protocols will be asked to leave site. 

• No one should come if they are experiencing COVID-like symptoms which include, but aren’t limited to, cough, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, sore throat, body aches, chills, muscle pain, headaches, new loss of taste or smell or fever. 

• Volunteers are required to register in advance of their builds in order to ensure that we do not exceed the maximum number of people per site. To ensure proper social distancing, the duration of build shifts as well as the number of volunteer spots will be lower than the typical build. This is required and no exceptions will be made.

• Volunteers must wear masks for the full duration of their shift. Please plan to bring your own PPE.

• Staff will issue tools to each person on site to avoid sharing, and all tools will be sanitized after use.

• There will be no shared water coolers or lunches.  Please bring your own water to last for the duration of the shift.

• There will be hand washing stations at each worksite.  

Plan to bring

• A mask

• Gloves (if you would like to wear them)

• Enough water for your full shift (keep in mind it will be hot)

• If you have your own hand tools with your name written on them, feel welcome to bring those

Please reach out to Christine at cabernathy@orangehabitat.org if you have any questions or concerns.

ReStore Reopening

The Durham/Chapel Hill ReStore, located at 5501 Durham-Chapel Hill Blvd. in Durham, NC 27707, is now open from 10am to 4pm Tuesday through Saturday. This location is also hiring for four Full-Time Donations Ambassadors. Click here for the job description. 

The Hillsborough ReStore, located at 672 N Churton Street in Hillsborough, NC 27278, is opening on Tuesday, June 23rd with store hours of 10am to 4pm Tuesday through Saturday. This location will begin taking drop off donations on Monday, June 15th from 8am-4pm. Drop offs will be accepted around the back of the facility at the loading dock. This location is also hiring for two Full-Time ReStore Associates. Click here for the job description. 

Donations are being accepted at all locations, contactless pickups are being made, and select items are being sold online. New safety protocols are in place for shopping in stores including limiting number of customers in stores, encouraging customers to wear a face covering while shopping (and offering a 10% discount to those who do!), and only accepting credit card payments. Click here to read more about the new policies and procedures at the ReStores.

Impact on Homeowners

The health and well-being of our community is the most important factor in making these decisions. We also know that a lack of funding could lead to a delay in moving our homebuyers out of substandard conditions and into safe, stable housing. Your financial support is especially appreciated during this time of uncertainty as we work to continue serving our homebuyers, many of whom are especially vulnerable to the impacts of this crisis.