About Us

Pioneer Valley Habitat for Humanity is a non-profit, ecumenical housing ministry whose goal is to make home ownership possible for low-income families in Hampshire and Franklin counties. Through the donation of money, land, expertise and labor, we commit ourselves to build safe, decent, affordable homes in partnership with families in need.

The need here is great. Few families in Hampshire and Franklin counties live in shacks, but 69% of low-income renting households are what HUD calls “cost-burdened,” spending more than a third of their income for shelter. Increased building costs, a decrease in total housing stock, and cutbacks in government programs have combined to force housing costs up. Today, it would take a minimum wage earner 125 hours of work a week to pay the fair market rent on a two-bedroom unit in Massachusetts. Families in the shrinking supply of subsidized housing are locked in, as rents go up with income. Moreover, mortgages, in these units are gradually being privatized.

Since it was formed, Pioneer Valley Habitat has raised funds from individuals, corporations, churches, and foundations to build homes. Twenty-four families have become homeowners, ten of them headed by single mothers, two by single fathers. Twenty-one adults and forty-one children now live in PVH homes. Our tithe has also built at least an equal number of homes in Haiti, Tanzania, and Ethiopia. Our families have become integral, tax-paying members of their communities; their mortgage payments help to build more houses.

Pioneer Valley Habitat has provided permanent housing for 30 families.

Since 1989, Pioneer Valley Habitat for Humanity has led the community effort to create:

A duplex condo home on Pine Brook Curve, Northampton 1993
A duplex condo home on Charles Lane, Amherst 1996
A duplex condo home on Prospect St, Orange 1997
A single family home on Cahillane Terrace, Northampton 1999
A duplex condo home on Vernon and Forbes Ave, Northampton 2000
A single family home on West Pomeroy Lane, Amherst 2001
A duplex condo home on Ryan Road, Northampton 2002
Two duplex condo homes on Montague City Road, Greenfield 2002-2006
Three duplex condo homes on Westhampton Road, Northampton 2003-2007
Two single family homes on L Street, Turners Falls 2006-2009
Three single family homes on Stanley Street, Amherst 2007-2010
A zero-lot-line two family home on Garfield Ave in Florence 2008-2011

Pioneer Valley Habitat will continue with the building of:

Three single family homes on Garfield Ave, Florence 2011-
One single family home on Warner Street, Montague City 2010-
A single-family home on Belchertown Road, Amherst
Ffuture sites on East Street in Easthampton and elsewhere in the Valley.

Office Staff:

Executive Director: MJ Adams
Resource Development & Communications Director: Keegan Pyle
Office Manager/Executive Assistant: Jessica Adamites
Volunteer Assistant: Sarah Leboeuf