Our House

In August 2002, Home Builders Care Foundation (HBCF) began renovation work at a farmhouse property located in Brookeville, Montgomery County, Maryland. With HBCF assistance, the property, dating from the 1800s, has become the new home of Our House, a non-profit residential job training program for at-risk youth. HBCF undertook the renovation of two buildings on the property in great need of repair, the dormitory building and the main farmhouse. The repairs were needed to create a safe, clean home and learning environment for youth enrolled in the award-winning Our House program.

Our House purchased the vacant Brookeville farm property upon learning that their previous rented facility in Howard County had been sold. Our House had requested HBCF to provide construction services and materials to help renovate two buildings, the main farmhouse and a residence hall, which will provide staff offices, counseling facilities, meeting and training rooms, student dormitory accommodations for up to 16 youth, and a commercial-grade kitchen, required for the facility. The relocation will ultimately enable Our House to triple the number of children served by its programs.

Our House conducts a highly supervised residential job-training program for at-risk adolescent males, ages 16-21, who are referred to the program from social service agencies and juvenile justice agencies, as well as foster care. The program is unique in three ways: it teaches carpentry and building trades to the participants 8 hours per day; it offers academic/life skills classes in the evenings; and it has weekly community service projects so that the students learn to "give back" to society. A waiting list currently exists for enrollment.

The student participants in the Our House program assisted in the renovation effort, framing walls, painting and completing other preparatory work as part of their training. HBCF provided experienced drywall services and carpet installation during the final phases of renovation. In the fall of 2002, HBCF work in the residence hall kitchen was completed and inspected, paving the way for students to officially move in to their new home. The completed kitchen allowed students and faculty to celebrate Thanksgiving in their new home.

Meeting Site Supervisor in kitchen doorway	Kitchen doorway after construction

At the September Dinner Meeting of the Maryland-National Capital Building Industry Association, Our House Founder Richard Bienvenue and Advisory Board President Jeanette Mendonca were on hand to meet and greet builder and associate members and speak about their program. As guests of HBCF, they were offered the opportunity to gain exposure to the local industry as well as help HBCF in promoting our charitable work to our parent association. During the evening's presentation, our guests announced the naming of Our House's new conference room after the Home Builders Care Foundation. A welcome surprise!

Conference Room "before" renovation work	The same Conference Room corner "after" drywall, paint and during carpet installation

The renovation project was completed at the end of November 2002, at which time Our House completed their relocation to Montgomery County. For more information about the Our House program, please call Jeannette Mendonca, President, Our House Advisory Board or Richard Bienvenue, Executive Director at 301-519-1019.

A 501 (c) (3) Non-Profit Community Outreach Program affiliated with the Maryland National-Capital Building Industry Association.

We are pledged to the letter and spirit of U.S. policy for the achievement of equal housing opportunity throughout the Nation. We encourage and support an affirmative advertising and marketing program in which there are no barriers to obtaining housing because of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin.