volume LXX | september 2019
habitat welcomes three new homeowners in el cajon!

We had the pleasure of dedicating three new homes and celebrating three new Habitat homeowner families over the weekend. A total of five homes were built at the Ballantyne community in El Cajon - two of them were already dedicated after they were built at the 2018 Home Builders Blitz.  

These houses were mostly built by Habitat’s army of approximately 7,000 annual volunteers, working alongside the new homeowners, who commit to build and buy their own homes, as part of their partnership with Habitat. The 1,300 square foot homes have 3 bedrooms, 2-car covered carports, private yards, drought-tolerant landscaping, and energy efficient appliances and plumbing fixtures. 

Habitat is honored to have the support of the City of El Cajon, and many generous sponsors such as TD Ameritrade, Wells Fargo, and Realty Income, in making this community a reality.
get your kitchen thanksgiving ready with ReStore custom cabinetry

Planning a Thanksgiving meal at your home this year? The ReStore can help breathe new life into your kitchen! Our solid birch custom cabinets are offered in four styles, seven colors, and come ready to assemble. Visit any San Diego County ReStore location - National City, Kearny Mesa, Carlsbad, or Escondido - and get inspired for an affordable, DIY refresh. And our cabinets aren’t just for kitchens - use them in the bathroom, garage, laundry room, kids’ room - anywhere you could use some organization.

View custom cabinetry features and specs here .
we live in a global village

This month, eleven Habitat for Humanity volunteers packed up their work boots and headed to Chiapas, Mexico to build a home for a family in desperate need of shelter. It’s part of Habitat for Humanity International’s Global Village program, which offers opportunities to build alongside families in global locations in an effort to build strength, stability, and self-reliance through shelter. The trip to Chiapas was organized by San Diego Habitat for Humanity, the local affiliate of the worldwide organization.

The volunteers, made up of members of the San Diego community and San Diego Habitat for Humanity staff and raised money to fund their trip, spent one week building a home, literally brick by brick. They worked in partnership with a family in the Chiapas region of Mexico, located at the most southeastern tip of the county, bordered by Guatemala. 

Despite the progress that has been made in providing housing in recent years, more than 53 million people in Mexico do not have the financial means to buy or build adequate housing - that’s 45 percent of the population. Habitat for Humanity Mexico works hard on behalf of these people, supporting low-income families in building their homes, promoting community development, influencing public policy, attracting financial resources for housing, and educating governments, donors, and volunteers on the need in their country.  

No matter where you are in the world - a safe, stable home is the foundation for the strength, stability, and independence hardworking families need to build better futures. The volunteers who represented San Diego Habitat are proud to be a part of the solution for a family who needs a hand up.

If you are interested in information about San Diego Habitat’s next Global Village trip, please email joanna.shively@sandiegohabitat.org or visit www.sandiegohabitat.org .  Click here if you would like to find a trip in another region of the globe.
swing hammers and network with local building industry leaders this november!

Are you a leader in the building industry? Would you like to spend a day on a Habitat for Humanity job site, helping to build strength and stability for local families in need of a hand up? Just need a day out of the office, team building with your colleagues? We’ve got the event for you! San Diego Habitat is inviting leaders from the building industry to join us on November 6th for a fun, competitive networking and build event at our Logan Heights construction site, Comm22.

Not only will you be helping to build Habitat homes, we’re going to feature some fun construction competitions for companies and individuals to show off your skills. The event is a fundraiser for Habitat, and costs $200/participant - ticket price includes breakfast, lunch, and an end of day treat with some fun swag along the way.

And we’re still looking for sponsors! Click here to read about the benefits of partnering with Habitat for Humanity.
program success report: two years of revitalization in el cajon

The close of fiscal year 2019 marked the completion of a successful two-year partnership with the city of El Cajon that resulted in the repair and preservation of ten homes. San Diego Habitat began to engage with the community of El Cajon in 2016 in preparation for a partnership that would provide Critical Home Repair (interior repairs) as well as Home Preservation (exterior repairs) to qualifying homeowners. Through this engagement, the Neighborhood Revitalization department selected families that showed a willingness to partner and an appreciation for Habitat’s mission to improve quality of life and maintain existing housing stock. In addition to making these ten homes safer and more accessible, this effort expanded the impact of San Diego Habitat in El Cajon beyond the construction of new homes to affect whole neighborhoods. 
putting faith into action

San Diego Habitat for Humanity strives to put God’s love into action as we work to provide local families with strength, stability, and self-reliance through housing. Thrivent is a membership organization that guides Christians on their Wise With Money Journey to live more content, confident, and generous lives. In partnership, we are building a house in El Cajon, providing a unique and exciting opportunity for volunteers to work side-by-side to make a positive impact through prayer and hard work. Under one collective mission, we are coming together for the Thrivent Faith Build to build hope, community, and a home for one San Diego family. Meet the future Faith Build Homeowner here . Thrivent has pledged ½ the cost of the home - $160,000 - and has challenged the Christian Community in San Diego to match that gift. There is still time for you and your church to participate, and it is easy!
  • Organize an onsite volunteer build day (½ day, or 3 hour shifts available!)
  • Make a financial contribution
  • Organize a fundraising activity
  • Provide lunch for on-site workers
  • Create a welcome basket or other special items for the family
  • Form a prayer group

Many churches and individuals have joined together with a commitment to make this house a home. We are grateful to: Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church, Fallbrook United Methodist Church, First Presbyterian Church of El Cajon, First United Methodist Church of Chula Vista, First United Methodist Church, El Cajon, First United Methodist Church, San Diego, Foothills United Methodist Church, La Jolla Community Church, La Jolla Presbyterian Church, New Hope Community Church, Rancho Bernardo Community Church, San Carlos United Methodist Church, St Patrick's Catholic Church, St. Mark's United Methodist Church, St. Paul's United Methodist Church of The Voyager, and Village Community Presbyterian Church.
partner corner

Thank you to these generous sponsors for helping Habitat build homes, communities, and hope in September!
San Diego Habitat for Humanity
8128 Mercury Court, San Diego, CA 92111
619-283-4663 (HOME)