Building stable homes, stronger families in Bath

For many homeowners in Maine's midcoast, the hard part of a repair isn't knowing what needs fixing. It's being physically unable to do the work, and not having the money to pay someone else to do it. That's where Habitat for Humanity 7 Rivers Maine steps in. Based in Bath, it creates homeownership opportunities for families with limited incomes by building sustainable housing, and by repairing, weatherizing and modifying existing homes. Its Critical Home Repair Program is on track to help more than 150 families this year. A job might be a broken window, a ramp at the front door, or getting a house ready for a Maine winter with weather stripping, door sweeps, sealed foundation leaks and custom-built interior window inserts that hold in heat and cut heating costs. For older and disabled homeowners, modifications improve safety, mobility and independence, so they can keep living where they want to be: at home. The work runs almost entirely on volunteers. They help with new home construction and repairs, run the Habitat ReStore at the Bath Shopping Center, serve on committees and help in the office. Some come every day of the week; others give a few hours a month. Eliza Neidlinger, who joined the affiliate as Community Engagement and Volunteer Manager in August 2026, says every bit of that time makes a huge impact on the families Habitat serves. The ReStore sells donated building materials, appliances and furniture to the public. Its proceeds support Habitat's housing programs, and the resale keeps usable materials out of landfills. Neidlinger's biggest challenge is telling that story. Every Habitat affiliate is a little different, and many people don't know what their local one actually does. At Habitat 7 Rivers, a lot of the answer is repair work for neighbors who already own their homes but can't keep them safe and warm on their own.