Helping Families Affected by Wildfires
Rebuild and Recover
Los Angeles, CA – July 7, 2020: California Community Foundation is renewing its partnership with Habitat for Humanity of Greater Los Angeles (Habitat LA) with a $250,000 grant to continue to help families build affordable places to call home. For the past 20 years, California Community Foundation has been a Habitat LA supporter, contributing more than $600,000 since the partnership began in 2000. The $250,000 grant will support expansion of Habitat LA’s Disaster Relief program; funding the repair and reconstruction of homes damaged by the 2018 Woolsey Fire.
“For 30 years, Habitat LA has worked to build better futures for hardworking families in the greater Los Angeles area,” said Erin Rank, President and CEO of Habitat LA. “We are immensely grateful for generous partners like the California Community Foundation who have been supporting our mission of making decent, sustainable and affordable housing a reality for all for more than two decades.”
In November 2018, the destructive Woolsey Fire burned over 96,949 acres of land in Los Angeles and Ventura county. The fire destroyed 1,643 structures and prompted the evacuation of more than 295,000 people. Seminole Springs, a mobile home park in Agoura Hills, was severely impacted with more than half of the community destroyed by this wildfire. Habitat LA established the Disaster Relief program to partner with disaster affected families and communities to help them recover and regain the capacity to rebuild their lives. With the $250,000 funding from California Community Foundation, Habitat LA will complete over 40 assessments with families in need and almost 30 home repairs.
“The disaster affected families are not just building back after the wildfires, but they will now also have to build back their communities after the global COVID-19 pandemic,” said Rank.
During these times, families need the security and stability of a decent home they can afford. Habitat LA’s work is essential to helping families be able to return to their homes. To-date, Habitat LA has completed more than thirty home repair projects in partnership with families. One project is currently in process and almost 30 additional applications will be scheduled. The grant will also support staffing and new office costs associated with providing rebuilding and case management support for affected households.
“California Community Foundation is pleased to partner with Habitat for Humanity of Greater Los Angeles as it serves families impacted by two devastating disasters: the 2018 Woolsey Fire and COVID-19,” said Antonia Hernandez, President and CEO, California Community Foundation. “Now more than ever, Habitat’s work is vital to ensure the most vulnerable families impacted, will have the support they need to continue to thrive.”
Habitat’s Disaster Response program educates the public on various aspects of shelter and house construction and introduces disaster risk reduction concepts that allow families to protect themselves against future disasters. Supporting families affected by natural disasters requires collaborative efforts. Through the continued support of community partners such as California Community Foundation, Habitat LA will continue to lay the foundation to build better futures one community at a time. To learn more or show your support, visit https://www.habitatla.org/how-to-apply/disaster-relief/.
About Habitat for Humanity of Greater Los Angeles
Habitat for Humanity of Greater Los Angeles (Habitat LA) brings people together to build homes, communities and hope. As the top nonprofit residential homebuilder in the greater Los Angeles area with Charity Navigator 4-Star rating every year consecutively since February 2012 and Platinum GuideStar status for transparency, Habitat LA has partnered with volunteers, donors and Habitat homeowners to build, renovate and repair more than 1,000 homes locally and worldwide since 1990. The lives of thousands of individuals have been transformed as a result of having a decent and affordable place to call home. Habitat homeowners help build their own homes and pay an affordable mortgage. By supporting Habitat LA through volunteerism, donations and supporting affordable housing, everyone can help families achieve the stability and self-reliance they need to build a better future. To learn more, visit www.habitatla.org.
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Media Contact:
Genetric Brown
C: 310-808-5902
gbrown@habitatla.org
