Sunny days are peeking through the clouds as we approach Spring. It has been an incredible month filled with change, history, and love. February is Black History Month, and Habitat LA is proud to have joined Habitat affiliates from across the nation in Washington D.C. to advocate for advancing Black homeownership and affordable housing on a national scale.

Recently, Habitat LA team members traveled to Washington, D.C. to advocate for affordable housing at the Habitat on the Hill 2023: Advocacy for Impact conference. The three-day event focused on how a changing political environment can impact housing policy, and what it takes to create solutions for advancing Black homeownership with national and local housing experts.

After two impactful virtual conferences, Habitat staff members, volunteers, homeowners, and supporters from around the country united in our nation’s capital to advocate for safe and affordable housing. Among the attendees, President and CEO Erin Rank, Patrick Sunpanich, Senior Director of Government Affairs, and Dr. Dinesa Thomas-Whitman, Vice President of Programs, were proud to represent Habitat LA on a national scale! They met with Representative Ted Lieu, Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager-Dove and many more. See Habitat LA’s Twitter at #HabitatOnTheHill. 

“The Habitat on the Hill annual pilgrimage to our nation's capital gave us an extraordinary opportunity to meet face to face with our Members of Congress and advocate for our highest legislative priorities, which include more funding for homeownership and to remind them how badly the housing crisis is affecting local families,” said Patrick Sunpanich, Senior Director of Government Affairs at Habitat LA.

Participants learned and shared promising policy solutions and left with the tools necessary to help increase the impact of Habitat LA's overall advocacy impact on a local level.

“We have to tap into our courage. Stop quarantining your courage. The world is waiting,” said Natosha Reid Rice, Vice President, Global Equity and Inclusion Officer for Habitat for Humanity International, in the final session of the conference.

Affordable housing needs YOUR voice! We invite you to join us as we advocate for equitable solutions for affordable housing and advancing Black homeownership in our local communities.

Take these actions now to amplify our message on Capitol Hill:



• Email your policymakers: Personalize an email to ask your members of Congress to support affordable housing in your area!
• Get social: Click to tweet Habitat LA and your members of Congress saying you support developing communities of opportunity.

The more voices involved, the stronger our call to address the need for affordable housing in greater Los Angeles. Join us!

A home is a legacy for many families, and having a home to pass on to your grandchildren is vital for Inglewood residents, Margaret W. and her husband, Marvin. Recently, Habitat LA’s Home Preservation team helped make their home a safe space for the couple to continue gathering with loved ones and take care of daily life. Initially, Margaret came to us for help repairing the only bathroom in their home.

With a leaking toilet and cracked tile flooring, the damage created significant safety hazards for the couple. Additionally, the homeowners could no longer get into the high bathtub without a risk of falling. Thanks to funding provided by the City of Inglewood, The Home Depot Foundation and others, we were able to transform their bathroom with new flooring, fresh paint, and accessibility features that would greatly help the couple with their mobility. We were also able to paint the exterior of their home and upgrade their bathroom. “My wife and I have been living in our home for over 40 years,” said Marvin. "We think it’s a fantastic job what this organization is doing because it’s making us feel better and upgrading our home, too.”

At Habitat LA, we know that nearly 4 million of our veterans pay at least 30% of their income toward rent or mortgage, while more than 1.5 million pay at least 50%. As you can imagine, using half of your income to pay your rent or mortgage can greatly strain any budget.

Habitat LA is proud to support Margaret and her husband with home improvements that will significantly impact their quality of life. If you or someone you know needs home repairs, CLICK HERE to reach out to our Home Preservation program.

Habitat LA knows that buying a home can feel like a daunting task. That’s why we created “Pathways to Homeownership”, a homebuyer education program that explains the steps to homeownership and makes it easy to understand. If you are interested in more information, save this upcoming workshop in your calendar or see the full schedule HERE.

UPCOMING WORKSHOP

Saturday – March 18, 2023

Register HERE

Apply for a Habitat LA scholarship!

Interested in attending a workshop but not sure if it’s within budget? No worries, scholarships are available! To request a scholarship application, participants should contact Habitat LA at home@habitatla.org or (310) 323-4663 x115.

This year, Habitat LA is hosting our annual auction, in-person and online! Don’t wait to get your hands on amazing items like tickets for two on the Goodyear Blimp; an incredible Santa Barbara getaway complete with a 2-night stay, private boating experience and wine tasting; and the ultimate cinematic experience for you and 14 friends at the exclusive City Club!

If you are attending the gala and make the winning bid, we will have many of the items available for pick up the evening of the event. For any lucky winners not attending the gala, convenient delivery and pickup options will be available!



CLICK HERE TO BID NOW!

In the wonderful city of Long Beach, Habitat LA held an amazing groundbreaking ceremony for a new 36-home development in the Washington Neighborhood! Watch as our volunteers, donors, and partners take up a shovel and turn a plot of dirt into a community for future homeowners. The Washington Villas development is Habitat LA’s largest project to date, consisting of townhouse-style homes with garages. It’s a part of Habitat LA’s continued commitment to eliminating barriers to building affordable housing across greater Los Angeles.

Habitat LA recently held our annual Golf Tournament, sponsored by Turner Construction! 145 donors and volunteers were able to tee off on the fresh green lawns at the Old Ranch Country Club in Seal Beach, California.

Turner Construction has been a longtime partner of Habitat LA and has been a leader in the building industry for over 120 years. Since 2018, Turner has supported our Home Builders Blitz—directly impacting the lives of nearly 50 people by providing affordable housing and stability. Proceeds from the tournament support our mission to build homes, communities and hope throughout greater Los Angeles.

“Being a construction company, we love to build and we know that we get to be a part of something that is our forte when we work with Habitat. In the end, seeing a family move into a home is such a great feeling. We believe in and support Habitat LA 100 percent!” — Cristina Alvarado of Turner Construction.

If you would like to support the Home Builders Blitz and help Habitat LA continue to provide affordable housing, donate HERE or learn more about how you can get involved in next year’s tournament by emailing Patty Lee at plee@habitatla.org.

If your storage facility or warehouse is overflowing with overstock, Habitat LA ReStores are here to help. We’ll pick up your surplus inventory—putting it back to use in the community and keeping it out of landfills. 

We accept a variety of goods including clearance furniture inventory, home décor, and seasonal stock.

Our commercial trucks with liftgates are available at your convenience seven days a week and pick-up service is FREE. You'll also receive an in-kind donation receipt listing for your donated items. 

Schedule your donation today