Habitat for Humanity of Greater Sacramento launches “Home Together” campaign in response to devastating COVID-19 impact
Wells Fargo pledges $35,000 matching grant for donations to resiliency fund campaign
Habitat for Humanity of Greater Sacramento, the local 34-year-old nonprofit known for bringing people together to build and repair homes for those in need, is now in desperate need of support after the organization’s largest revenue source, the Habitat ReStore, has been shut down due to COVID-19.
The ReStore, Habitat’s retail outlet which sells donated new and used building supplies and home furnishings, raises $120,000 a month and nearly $1.3 million a year for the nonprofit through sales revenue. These funds directly support Habitat for Humanity’s operating costs including rent and staff.
With the ReStore having to close due to COVID-19 orders, the nonprofit has been forced to temporarily lay off 90% of their staff and press pause on all active construction sites.
To make matters more stressful, some of Habitat homeowners have lost their jobs in the pandemic and now having difficulty paying their monthly mortgages. Habitat is working with homeowners through the crisis, but is stretched thin finding resources to continue to pay the insurance premiums and property taxes that are included in Habitat homeowner’s monthly mortgage payments and impounded on their behalf.
“It’s been gut-wrenching,” says Habitat for Humanity of Greater Sacramento President and CEO, Leah Miller “But we are doing everything we can to ensure the resiliency of Habitat for Humanity through this crisis because as bad as the housing crisis was before COVID-19, we know it will be much worse when this pandemic lifts and we want to be here for our community ready and able to help.”
As part of that COVID-19 resiliency effort, this week Habitat launched the “Home Together” campaign, an opportunity for the community to help Habitat remain resilient through COVID-19 impact.
Volunteers, donors, and community members have been posting their personal donations and stimulus check donations on social media holding signs with the hashtag #HomeTogetherHabitat.
(Examples of photos submitted from volunteers, donors, and community members in support of the #HomeTogetherHabitat campaign)
A boost to the effort is being made by Wells Fargo, a longtime partner of Habitat who has provided thousands of volunteers and hundreds of thousands of volunteer build hours on Habitat Greater Sacramento projects through the years and who has pledged to MATCH the first $35,000 in donations made to the Home Together campaign.
“The Coronavirus pandemic and California’s sheler-in-place order have affected every Californian. While some have lost their jobs—and therefore their ability to pay for essentials like their mortgage, others are sheltering-in-place in a home that is dangerous to their health,” said Wells Fargo Community Relations Associate Manager Kären Woodruff. “Wells Fargo is pleased to help our neighbors in need by providing Habitat for Humanity of Greater Sacramento a $35,000 matching grant for its Home Together Campaign.”
(Wells Fargo Community Relations Associate Manager Kären Woodruff pledges $35,000 in matching funds from Wells Fargo to support the #HomeTogetherHabitat campaign to help Habitat remain resilient through COVID-19 impact)
Donations to the Home Together crowdfunding campaign can be made online or through checks sent to Habitat for Humanity of Greater Sacramento at 819 North 10th Street Sacramento, CA 95811. Wells Fargo will match contributions received or postmarked through April 24th.
About Habitat for Humanity of Greater Sacramento
Celebrating nearly 35 years of building hope and homes in Sacramento and Yolo County, Habitat for Humanity of Greater Sacramento, a 501(c)3 nonprofit and local affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International, builds and repairs homes in partnership with the local community and helps revitalize under-served neighborhoods. Last year, Habitat Greater Sacramento served over 3,000 individuals through home builds, repairs, and community projects. Those interested in supporting Habitat’s work can find more at www.habitatgreatersac.org or follow Habitat on Facebook at Facebook.com/HabitatGreaterSac ,Twitter @SacHabitat,,or Instagram @SacHabitat.
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To hear more about the #HomeTogetherHabitat campaign, check out our most recent interview on Good Day Sacramento on the Home Together Habitat campaign page or through this direct YouTube link.
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