History | Habitat for Humanity of Greater Sacramento
Over the years, Habitat has grown from an organization that serves dozens of individuals a year to an organization that serves thousands. Volunteers and grassroots community support remain the lifeblood of our organization.
To learn more about our 35 year history, we encourage you to watch this video which premiered in honor of our 35 year anniversary in fall of 2020:
35 Year Anniversary Video
A brief history:
Habitat for Humanity of Greater Sacramento is a 501©3 non-profit and local affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International. The local affiliate was established in 1985 by a group of volunteers as Habitat for Humanity of Greater Sacramento, a small local Habitat affiliate serving low-income families in the county of Sacramento.
In 2002 we opened our very first ReStore in the basement of our Habitat offices.
In 2009, in an effort to provide greater sustainability to Habitat homeowner partners, Habitat began putting solar on all Habitat homes and building to the highest level of green building standards. In 2010, Habitat for Humanity of Greater Sacramento was awarded the “Achievement in Excellence” by the US Green Building Council and in 2011, Habitat finished amount the top 3 finalists in the entire United States for “Affordable projects of the year” at the US Green Building Council Summit.
In March of 2013, Habitat for Humanity of Greater Sacramento was named as one of Habitat for Humanity International’s “Affiliates of Distinction” for 2013-2015.
In January of 2014, Habitat for Humanity of Greater Sacramento celebrated its 100th completed home in Sacramento County. In July of 2014, Habitat for Humanity of Greater Sacramento and Habitat for Humanity of Yolo County merged to create what is now known as Habitat for Humanity Greater Sacramento.
In February of 2015, we became one of thirty Habitat affiliates (out of 1,400) to receive the Sam Mompongo award from Habitat for Humanity International for $1 million in lifetime tithe contributions. Our affiliate is proud to contribute to Habitat’s global ministry supporting building homes in Nicaragua at this time had had already completed over 550 housing solutions.
In March of 2015, we were also named as one of Habitat for Humanity International’s “Affiliates of Distinction” for the second consecutive time for 2015-2017. Later that year Habitat Greater Sacramento would also receive the “Housing Innovation Award” from the Sacramento Housing Alliance for our Indian Lane Project – a 14-home transit-oriented, LEED Platinum development in South Sacramento.
In 2016, in an effort to do more, Habitat Greater Sacramento launched our home repairs and neighborhood revitalization program which focuses on preserving the existing affordable stock through providing critical home repairs to low-income families, seniors, and veterans, as well as uplifting existing community assets such as parks, schools, and community gathering spaces in our underserved neighborhoods .
In 2018, with the help of the Sacramento Metro Chamber “Leadership Sacramento” program, the South Oak Park Neighborhood Association, and a variety of other partners, Habitat launched “Rock the Block” as a part of the Neighborhood Revitalization Program. The 36-hour event now brings together hundreds of community volunteers over 2 days to do dozens of home repairs and community projects in a targeted underserved community.
In 2019, Habitat celebrated the completion of their 150 home build in Sacramento and Yolo County.
In 2020, Habitat celebrated their 35 year anniversary and 100th completed home repair since the program started in 2016.
In 2020, Habitat for Humanity of Greater Sacramento impacted over 3,500 individuals through build, repair, and community projects in the greater Sacramento region.
