CHILLICOTHE, Ohio — Scioto Valley Habitat for Humanity has announced plans to consolidate its operations under Habitat for Humanity of Southeast Ohio, a strategic move aimed at sustaining and expanding affordable housing services across Ross and Pickaway counties.
The merger will restructure the local organization into a coalition within Habitat for Humanity of Southeast Ohio—an independently chartered affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International that serves multiple counties across the region. Select board members from the Scioto Valley affiliate will join the regional board of directors to ensure continued local representation.
Expanded Services and Strategic Impact
Leadership from both organizations emphasized that pooling regional resources will allow Habitat to scale up homebuilding efforts and launch new community assistance programs.
| Initiative | Details & Timeline |
| New Home Construction | Breaking ground on a new home in Chillicothe this fall in partnership with the Ross County Land Bank, with two additional builds planned for 2027. |
| Essential Home Repair Program | Launching critical home repair services for existing homeowners in need. |
| Community Education | Offering free home repair and maintenance classes for local residents. |
| Staffing & Engagement | Hiring a full-time community engagement director for Ross and Pickaway counties to coordinate volunteers and local business partnerships. |
| Fundraising | Hosting a “Project Playhouse” event to engage families, local sponsors, and volunteers. |
Community Leadership Perspectives
“We made the decision to work with Habitat Southeast Ohio so that we can continue to help our communities in Ross & Pickaway Counties,” said Matthew Giroux, Board President of Scioto Valley Habitat for Humanity. “By partnering… we can honor the legacy of the work of many volunteers from the past and look forward to an exciting future of leveraging our collective resources.”
Ken Oehlers, Executive Director of Habitat for Humanity of Southeast Ohio, noted that local support remains vital to success across the expanded footprint. “It takes a community to build a community,” Oehlers said. “As with all of the counties where we provide services, we will need local support for local projects within Ross and Pickaway Counties.”
Community members interested in volunteer opportunities, upcoming builds, or event sponsorships can find more details at habitatseo.org.
