Business Details
Building Sustainable Homes for Families in Need
Hands of the Carpenter is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered in Arlington, Virginia, dedicated to addressing housing insecurity in underserved communities. Founded on Christian principles, we collaborate with local partners in the Dominican Republic to design and construct durable, sustainable homes for families in need. Our approach emphasizes community engagement, utilizing locally sourced materials and skilled labor to ensure cultural relevance and economic benefits. By partnering with the Catholic Diocese of Arlington Mission Office, we identify families living in substandard conditions along the Haitian border and implement construction projects that empower communities to replicate our model. Our team of architects, construction professionals, and volunteers brings decades of combined expertise in residential design and humanitarian aid.We prioritize environmental stewardship through practices like reforestation initiatives where families plant over 100 trees to replace those used in construction. Transparency and accountability guide our operations, with 100% of donations directly funding housing projects. Our work extends beyond physical structures, aiming to create safe living environments that enable families to pursue educational and economic opportunities. Through strategic partnerships and volunteer engagement, we maintain rigorous quality standards while keeping construction costs efficient. Our long-term vision includes expanding this replicable model to additional regions facing similar housing challenges.
Services
Home Construction
Community Development
Sustainable Building
Disaster Relief Housing
Volunteer Coordination
Highlights and features
- We collaborate directly with local communities to identify housing needs
- Our projects use 100% locally sourced materials and labor
- Each home includes reforestation commitments from recipient families
- Christian values guide our ethical, transparent operations
- 100% of donations directly fund housing construction projects
What people say
Life-changing impact
Transparent operations
Community empowerment
Durable construction
Compassionate approach
Services
Home Construction
We construct durable, sustainable homes in partnership with Dominican Republic communities. Using locally sourced materials and skilled labor, our projects replace unsafe shelters with structures featuring concrete footings, wood walls, and metal roofs. Each 600-square-foot home includes three bedrooms, living space, and outdoor porches while maintaining environmental responsibility through reforestation requirements.
Community Development
Our community-driven approach trains local laborers in sustainable building techniques while addressing immediate housing needs. By involving residents in material transportation, construction, and decision-making, we create lasting capacity for future development. This model ensures cultural appropriateness and economic benefits that extend beyond individual housing projects to strengthen entire communities.
Sustainable Building
We implement environmentally responsible construction practices including shou-sugi-ban wood preservation and local material sourcing. Our projects require recipient families to plant 100+ replacement trees, ensuring ecological balance. The use of durable, climate-appropriate materials like concrete footings and metal roofs guarantees long-term structural integrity while minimizing maintenance requirements in challenging environmental conditions.
People
Mark Cerny
President, Board of Directors
Architect and contractor with emcee design build. First visited Banica in 2014 on a mission trip. Developed organizational vision through multiple return visits. Combines construction expertise with humanitarian commitment to lead strategic direction.
Jonathan Amgott
Secretary, Board of Directors
Legal expert with international development background. Leads mission development committee. Applies public policy and strategic planning skills from Duke and UVA education to shape organizational growth and community engagement strategies.
Patrick Fallon
Treasurer, Board of Directors
Technology industry professional managing finances and volunteer coordination. Brings hands-on construction experience from Dominican Republic volunteering. Oversees financial accountability while maintaining grassroots project involvement through fieldwork participation.
Questions
What is Hands of the Carpenter's primary mission?
We build sustainable homes for families in need in Banica, Dominican Republic, through community partnerships and environmentally responsible construction practices.
How are recipient families selected?
Local community councils identify families living in unsafe housing conditions. Priority goes to those unable to afford repairs and demonstrating commitment to community involvement.
What percentage of donations go to housing projects?
100% of all donations directly fund home construction projects, including materials, labor, and community training programs.
Can I volunteer for construction projects?
Yes! We organize volunteer trips to the Dominican Republic. Participants work alongside local laborers while learning sustainable building techniques.
How do you ensure project sustainability?
We use locally sourced materials, train regional workers, and require reforestation commitments from recipient families to create lasting community benefits.
