89 since '85!
89 homes for 312 men, women, and children since 1985!

*Last dedication: May 12th, 2008

Oak Lane: Building a History of Families
13 homes constructed in 5 years (1997-2002)
Read the Oak Lane story below...

The Oak Lane Project is very much like all of York Habitat's previous initiatives, but there is one distinction. This project will not only make a difference in the lives of the families who will come to own these homes; it will make a difference in the resurgence of a neighborhood, and a community that is entering a new phase of a long history. Tucked away off of West College Avenue near the Codorus Creek bridge lies Oak Lane. The strength and vitality of Oak Lane have always been closely related to the fortunes and prosperity of the City of York. The first York Hospital was less than a block away. Over the years, other neighbors included a brewery, lime kiln, lime quarry, brick kiln, brick yard, machine plants, paper mills, ice factory and a candy company. The 300 block of Oak Lane had been in decline for over 30 years and this area had long been the target for City redevelopment efforts. The City of York worked on a number of plans to renovate the blighted block with its boarded-up row houses, vacant buildings, broken glass and scattered debris. Private developers determined that renovation costs would be too expensive. For too many years these homes had been abandoned and decaying. Then in 1996, the City began tearing down all but three of these condemned houses. A few absent owners, by refusing to accept the City's offer, forced the City to go through the condemnation process. These derelict buildings became a source of ongoing concern and embarrassment to the neighbors and to the city. In October of 1996, a fire destroyed the three remaining condemned structures. As a result of earlier cooperative efforts the City of York and York Habitat agreed to work together to replace the houses that had been lost to this neighborhood with new Habitat homes. Work began on the first three homes in August of 1997.  In 1997, York Habitat began its most ambitious project to date. Between 1997 and 2002, a total of 13 homes were constructed, 11 at Oak Lane and two across the street on Church Avenue. The total cost of this project has amounted to more than $650,000. With the last house completed, more than 5,000 men and women will have contributed approximately 52,000 hours of volunteer labor. But, York Habitat is not in the "home building business". Our history is not really a history of houses, it is a history of families. The real story is one of transformed lives; the lives of the families and of the volunteers. Habitat for Humanity is a non profit volunteer organization which provides decent, affordable housing to low income families who are willing to work with us in a partnership. Habitat families put $500 down and contribute many hours of work which we call "Sweat Equity". We are a family driven organization, not a construction driven one. The ingredients of York Habitat for Humanity are: families, volunteers, donors, no profit, and no interest.