Habitat for Humanity of Greater Portland
At Town & Country Federal Credit Union, we believe strong communities are built when people come together around shared purpose. One of the most meaningful ways we live out this belief is through our long-standing partnership with Habitat for Humanity of Greater Portland, helping expand access to safe, sustainable, and affordable housing for local families.
Stable housing is foundational to financial well-being, educational success, and long-term opportunity. For nearly a decade, Town & Country has been proud to support Habitat for Humanity’s mission—both financially and through the hands-on efforts of our employees.
Our involvement with Habitat for Humanity began in 2016 at the Carpenter Court development in Scarborough. What started as financial support quickly grew into something more personal, as Town & Country employees stepped onto build sites to help construct homes alongside future homeowners.
Since then, Town & Country has helped finance 18 Habitat homes across three local developments:
· Freeport: Financed 3 of 3 homes
· Scarborough (Carpenter Court): Financed 8 of 12 homes, with employee volunteers on most builds
· South Portland (Sunset Place): Financed 7 of 8 homes, with employee volunteers actively participating
This month, we will hold our first volunteer build at Habitat’s new Standish development.
Each project is a testament to what’s possible when financial resources and community commitment come together.
Employee Build Days are a significant part of Town & Country’s commitment to supporting our community. Town & Country employees contributed 576 volunteer hours at Carpenter Court. After pandemic delays, they contributed another 504 hours between 2023 and 2025 at Sunset Place.
To date, employees have participated in 15 company build days, investing 1,080 hours of teamwork, effort, and heart.
“It’s good to get out of your comfort zone,” said Lisa Bellefleur, Vice President of Mortgage Lending at Town & Country. “Whether it’s organizing a workbench or helping put up a wall, it’s meaningful—to yourself, to your fellow builders, and to the future homeowners.”
Affordable housing changes lives, and employees who volunteer with Habitat see the impact firsthand. “Giving a family the keys to their new home, and the kids are crying with excitement,” said Bellefleur, “it’s truly remarkable.”
Even if she can’t move her arms three days after installing ceiling insulation, Bellefleur is happy to do the work. Beyond the physical construction, she is one of the key players in making these homes affordable for families in need.
Applicants for housing must meet certain criteria for Habitat for Humanity’s program. For those who do not qualify, Bellefleur and the Town & Country mortgage team provide financial guidance to help them find housing or qualify for the next round of applications.
Additionally, Town & Country makes donations to Habitat for Humanity. From seed money to start its “Critical Home Repair” program in 2019, to annual gifts and fundraising concerts.
Together, sweat equity, financing, and charitable giving reflect our comprehensive ‘local helping local’ approach to strengthening housing stability in our community.
As more families move into homes supported by Town & Country’s financing and volunteer efforts, we’re reminded that meaningful change happens when people come together—not just to support the community, but to help build it. To learn more about Habitat of Greater Portland, visit https://habitatportlandme.org/
