York Habitat homeowner builds a future for her and neighbors on Chestnut Street

Denise Martinez turned loss into strength, finding stability in homeownership and purpose in building a stronger community.

Denise Martinez was looking for a fresh start.  

After losing her fiancé, Evan Grimes, in a tragic motorcycle accident in 2017 and facing uncertainty in her housing situation, she knew she needed a stable home for herself and her son and young daughter.  

Her cousin introduced her to York Habitat for Humanity. 

In June 2022, Denise was accepted into the York Habitat for Humanity homeownership program and began working toward owning a house in the Chestnut Street Revitalization Project.  

This included volunteering with Habitat for 250 hours on construction sites and at the York Habitat for Humanity ReStore while also taking classes to help her plan and budget for the future and be a successful homeowner. Denise cut the ribbon on her Chestnut Street house in May 2023.  
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“The program taught me a lot,” Denise says. “I just love being home. This is like my safe place. This is my peace, and I love it.” ​

A neighborhood connector

Soon after moving in, Denise found herself acting as a connector for her Chestnut Street neighbors. When a neighbor needs surgery, she asks what they need. When snow falls or ice builds up, she helps her neighbors shovel and salt their sidewalks, her neighbors help pick up her young daughter when she can’t be there.  

What makes the Chestnut Street Revitalization Project special isn’t just the homes, it’s the people. Habitat homeowners on this block have walked similar paths to homeownership. They look out for one another and celebrate milestones together. Everyone decorates their homes differently, but they share a special bond. 
“I get along with everyone here,” Denise says. “I love the fact that we’re all different but we’re all the same at the same time.” 

With Phase III of the Chestnut Street Project on the horizon and the final four homes soon to be constructed, new families will continue to be welcomed into this tight-knit community. Denise, ever the natural connector, is ready to greet them. 

“We’ll talk, get to know each other,” she says. “They always seem to come linger to me anyways, so I’ll just come up there and introduce myself.” 
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Her role reaching out to her neighbors caught the attention of York Habitat leadership. In 2025, Denise received recognition as one of York Habitat for Humanity’s Habitat Heroes. A Habitat Hero is an individual or organization that has gone out of their way to support the Habitat community. Denise will be honored at the Habitat Heroes Breakfast on March 4, 2025.   

Healing a scar in the heart of York

As the eighth homeowner to move into a Chestnut Street Habitat house, Denise is one of many Habitat homeowners who have helped bring new life to a block that was devastated by a fire in 2009.  

That fire destroyed 16 homes and displaced over 60 residents, leaving a scar in the heart of York. In partnership with the City of York, York Habitat for Humanity launched a three-phased revitalization project to restore this neighborhood in 2019. So far, 10 of those homes have been completed. When the project is finished, 14 new Habitat homes will have welcomed first time homeowners on Chestnut Street.  
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As York Habitat prepares for Phase III of the project, the organization faces the challenge of raising significant funds to complete the final four homes. The goal is to provide even more families with the same opportunity Denise received--a stable, affordable home built with love and community support coupled with financial and life skills training to keep moving forward. ​

Help complete the vision

For Denise and her Chestnut Street neighbors, homeownership has helped create stability, foster community, and provide a foundation for the future, but there’s still work to be done. York Habitat for Humanity is seeking the community’s support to make Phase III a reality.

​​Every donation, every volunteer hour, and every helping hand brings another family one step closer to the generational life change that comes with homeownership. 

“I think it's good to know you have support,” Denise says. “Some people don’t have family members to support them, but new neighbors can come in and support you. The best thing is to have a support.” 

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