Habitat East Bay/Silicon Valley Blog

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What is Cycle of Hope: Ride from Home?

Last year, riders, volunteers, and community supporters gathered by the hundreds at the start line of Cycle ...

August Construction Update

Fremont (Central Commons – 30 new homes, 2nd phase): So much paint! As we approach the finish line on the ...

Welcome, Cupertino High School Habitat Campus Chapter!

After a great time volunteering at our Playhouse Workshop, Ashwath felt inspired to share the love with his ...

One Small Thing: Playhouse Supports our Front-Line Heroes

For the people working on the front lines of this health crisis, life has been thrown into a shaky balance – ...

Faces of Habitat

Get Involved with Habitat as a Faith Community

At Habitat for Humanity, we believe that everyone can make a difference. People from all faith traditions, ...

Faces of Habitat

Finding Health through Home Repairs

Thousands of Bay Area families and seniors with limited incomes are struggling to stay in their homes as ...

Addressing Racial Disparities in Housing

At Habitat, we believe that a decent, stable home is a foundation on which families can build success. ...

How Habitat Welcomes Back Volunteers

As you know, the Bay Area is taking cautious steps to safely reopen in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. At ...

July Construction Update

Fremont (Central Commons – 30 new homes, 2nd phase): The summer sunshine is helping to keep our small crew ...

Habitat Continues to Shelter Neighbors in San Jose

This winter, you saw the completion of our first Bridge Housing Community on Mabury Road in San Jose. What ...

A message from President & CEO, Janice Jensen, on COVID-19

UPDATE AS OF 6/3/2020 Dear Habitat Family, As you know, the Bay Area is taking steps to reopen. We have ...

Faces of Habitat

Meet Becky

What started as a building hobby has grown into a life passion for one of our rockstar regulars, Becky. A ...

June Construction Update

Fremont (Central Commons – 30 new homes, 2nd phase): Thanks to the support of our virtual volunteers who ...

The CARES Act and Charitable Giving

This March, Congress passed the CARES Act – the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act. While ...

A message from Janice Jensen, President & CEO, on justice and action

Dear Habitat Community, I write to you with a heavy heart. I am heartbroken and angry at the killing of ...

Faces of Habitat

Meet Jennifer

When we gather – even virtually – for the Women’s Leadership Build, we build for families. We build for our ...

Faces of Habitat

Building it forward: One woman's journey

For many of us, the last couple of months have shown us that a home is so much more than a place to lay our ...

May Construction Update

We are missing our volunteers on site! In this construction update, you’ll find videos and photos from site ...

5 Tips to Budget Your Way Through a Crisis

The COVID-19 pandemic has us grappling with new circumstances – and a new financial reality. While emergency ...

Faces of Habitat

Meet Juanita

Building a new beginning through Bridge Housing Communities A pandemic has quarantined millions of ...

Build a House at Home! A Habitat activity for kids.

“Keeping my kids busy!” is a comment heard on conference calls across Habitat staff as we share struggles and ...

April Construction Update

A note from Janice Jensen, President & CEO: Dear Habitat Family, I hope that you and your loved ones are safe ...

Three Things We Know for Sure

We are facing uncertain times. With a pandemic spreading through our communities and our world, we are all ...

5 Ways to Stay Connected to Your Community During Quarantine

Feeling the urge to connect? Community is at our core here at Habitat for Humanity – bringing the community ...

Meet James and Brenda

The COVID-19 crisis has impacted us all, but among the most vulnerable are older adults and people with ...

#Womebuild at Habitat

When you see our volunteers working side-by-side in Fremont today, you’ll see them building something. What ...

From AmeriCorps to Assistant Site Superintendent

We can’t say it enough – AmeriCorps service members are at the heart of Habitat and make our mission to build ...

Construction Update: February

Fremont (Central Commons – 30 new homes, 2nd phase): We’re making progress on the exterior and interior of ...

Volunteer Spotlight: Patrick Hamm

JULY 2, 2020 Update: It is with a heavy heart we share that Patrick Hamm, longtime volunteer, has passed ...

Construction Update: January

We’re ringing in the New Year with the same 20/20 vision – building a world where everyone has a decent place ...

4 Ways to Give Back Throughout the Year

The season of new beginnings is here! Start the new year off on the right foot and feel good throughout the ...

Construction Update: December

When we think about the holiday season, nothing makes us feel more festive than bringing people together ...

Rain, Rain, Come and Play

As we celebrate holidays and make New Year’s resolutions, many of us share gratitude for our homes, ...

Thank You for Helping More Families Cross the Ultimate Finish Line!

Much like our Cycle of Hope benefit cycling event, the journey to homeownership is filled with milestones, ...

Bringing Housing Stability to Our Communities’ Most Vulnerable

When most people think of Habitat for Humanity, they think of homeownership. They see volunteers raising ...

Construction Update: November

Fremont (Central Commons – 30 new homes, 2nd phase): When you step onto our Central Commons development in ...

Faces of Habitat

Matt’s Journey to Habitat EBSV

An AmeriCorps service year with Habitat for Humanity is filled with challenges, victories, patience, a lot of ...

Faces of Habitat

Steve Hays Rides Cycle of Hope

We often talk about Cycle of Hope as two journeys in a single ride. Our cyclists ride not just for the ...

Homeownership Impacts Education

The bell has rung, and school is officially back in session! We’re thrilled to see our community poised for ...

3 Ways to get your School Involved with Habitat

1. Get out there! When you volunteer with a local nonprofit like Habitat, you are making a tangible ...

Construction Update: October

Fremont (Central Commons – 30 new homes, 2nd phase): We’re tackling some huge tasks to get Phase 2 of Central ...

Unity Build Fosters Community Through Service

At Habitat, we believe that everyone can make a difference in the affordable housing crisis – whatever ...

Construction Update: September

We’re skipping into September with much excitement and plenty of progress. From fleshing out the framing at ...

Meet Doris

Doris Williams has seen a lot in her 96 years. An Oakland native, Doris saw the building of the Bay Bridge, ...

Construction Update: August

Before we dive into the construction update, we want to give a huge thank you to our 2018 - 2019 AmeriCorps ...

Two Journeys, One Ride

Homeownership is probably not the first thing on your mind when you hop on your bike. You might think of the ...

Building Community After Move-In

Building a community means making a commitment to better not only your life but the lives of your neighbors. ...

Celebrating 10 Years of the Playhouse Program

This year, we’re excited to celebrate 10 years of our Playhouse Program! That’s right. For a decade now, ...

5 Fun Ways to Stay Productive with Habitat this Summer

With summer in full effect, we want to share how you can turn your free time into a satisfying way to get ...

Construction Update: July

Summertime shine calls for a construction site grind! This month the summer sun is keeping us dry and ...

What is Sweat Equity?

It’s a phrase you may have heard before. It conjures up images of rolling back sleeves, getting into the ...

Faces of Habitat

Thank you, Don Varney!

Don Varney, our Faith Relations Associate, has given 17 years of dedicated service to Habitat, and he’s ...

Financial Wellness Through Housing Counseling

As a HUD-approved Housing Counseling Agency, our Housing Counseling program works to build financial ...

Faces of Habitat

Meet Don Shafer

Habitat for Humanity relies on our volunteers to help us make homeownership affordable, and we count ...

Construction Update: June

Fremont (Central Commons – 30 new homes): At the start of our Women’s Leadership Build in May, Phase 2 of ...

Habitat AmeriCorps Build in NC

There are many perks to being an AmeriCorps service member, but one of the biggest highlights is the annual ...

Faces of Habitat

Wally's Journey to Homeownership

Wally knew that he needed a change. He knew it wouldn’t be easy, but he had inspiration close at hand. ...

Construction Update: May

Fremont (Central Commons – 30 new homes, 1st phase): We have been keeping busy at our Central Commons ...

Thank You, Women Builders!

On Friday, May 17th, a lot of women got together to make a lot of noise – and a lot of change. On a day that ...

What to Expect When Volunteering with Habitat!

You may not have lifted a hammer yet, but you’ve already made an impact. By looking for a way to give back to ...

Leading by Example

When Ellie Mae signed on as the 2019 Women’s Leadership Build’s Premier Sponsor, it made perfect sense to VP ...

Hello from Malawi!

Want to volunteer in Africa but don't know what to expect? Check out this day-to-day recap from our most ...

Faces of Habitat

Meet Beverly

After over 20 years in her San Jose house, Beverly Hayden knows the place she wants to call home for life. ...

Construction Update: April

Fremont (Central Commons – 30 new homes, 1st phase): The end of Phase 1 is just around the corner and we can ...

Spring Cleaning with More Meaning

Get ready to roll up your sleeves and start your spring cleaning! Spring cleaning probably makes you think of ...

5 Ways Women Build More at Habitat

On March 8th, we celebrated International Women’s Day. At Habitat, we are thankful for a broad, diverse ...

Construction Update: March

Despite the constant rainfall, our construction crew and incredible volunteers have made quite the headway, ...

Habitat: Just the Facts

Myth: Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter founded Habitat for Humanity. Fact: While he’s our most famous ...

Faces of Habitat

Meet Elsy and Jose

We know that Habitat changes lives. Our homeowners will tell you that the future holds new hope after ...

Faces of Habitat

Meet Ben

This is Ben. Ben is a Regular Volunteer with our Playhouse Program! It was Ben’s love of woodworking and ...

Habitat visits Capitol Hill!

Right now, as we hammer away at our work building housing opportunities here at home, Habitat for Humanity ...

Affordable Housing by the Numbers

At Habitat, we work hard to build affordable homes and hope. Behind that hard work are the numbers – the ...

Construction Update: February

February is the month of love, and we love our volunteers who’ve been working on and off the construction ...

Construction Update: January

The New Year brings new opportunities to get involved at Habitat! If your New Year’s resolution is to ...

10 Tips for Managing Finances, Student Loans, and more!

“Improving my finances” has to be one of the most common New Year’s resolutions year after year, and for a ...

Faces of Habitat

Meet the Rivera family

Central Commons, our 30-unit condominium development in Fremont, is about to welcome home it's first phase of ...

A Finish Line Worth Riding For!

Bob Frick, Chair of Habitat’s Foundation Board, was 70 years old when a student dared him onto a bicycle for ...

Construction Update: November

Habitat has so much to be thankful for this Thanksgiving. From the dedication of our volunteers, the support ...

Faces of Habitat

Meet Julieta

Every Habitat family steps on to the construction site with a story. Meet mom and future Habitat homeowner, ...

Raise Your Voice for Measure V

At Habitat East Bay/Silicon Valley, we’re proud of the work we’ve done to build a better San Jose through ...

Faces of Habitat

Meet the Valdez Family

On any given weekend, you might find Silvia Valdez and her three children at her parents’ home in San Jose. ...

Habitat Says YES on Prop 1

If you know anything about Habitat for Humanity, you know that we don’t take the housing crisis sitting down. ...

Construction Update: October

Fall is a busy time on site as we prepare for the winter season. Check out what we having going on across the ...

FALL in Love with Volunteering

With changing leaves comes changing lives, because fall is more than just the season for new school supplies ...

Faces of Habitat

Presented by Patelco Credit Union

Ask a Habitat homeowner about their experience, and you’ll often hear them say, “It’s been a journey.” And ...

Little Houses Build Big Dreams

“Peek-a-boo!” is not what you usually hear when someone walks into their Habitat home for the first time. But ...

Construction Update: September

The smell of fall (and pumpkin-flavored everything) is in the air! Fall means perfect weather for ...

5 Ways Cycling Impacts Habitat

The Bay Area is a cyclist’s dream – with unforgettable coastlines, mountains, and let’s not forget almost ...

Faces of Habitat

Meet Gary Fitschen

Gary Fitschen likes to keep a full plate. He delves in to his projects and interests with enthusiasm, and ...

Construction Update: August

As families return from summer vacations and children start back to school, our construction sites spring ...

AmeriCorps - A Year That Gives Back

Dedication, service, and community. These are three words you’ll often hear from an AmeriCorps service member ...

3 Steps to Paying Off Your Student Loans

Are you drowning in student loan debt? Do you have student loans that are in default and don’t know what to ...

Ride to Build Homes, Community, and Hope!

On November 3rd, cyclists from all over the Bay Area and beyond will gather for Cycle of Hope, Habitat East ...

Say YES to the Veterans and Affordable Housing Act of 2018

Habitat for Humanity East Bay/Silicon Valley is proud to join a broad coalition of affordable housing ...

Hello from El Salvador!

We landed on a stripe of gray on green, San Salvador stretching lush and verdant in every direction. June is ...

Faces of Habitat: Steve Johnson

Meeting new people, building a variety of skills, and community growth. These are just a few reasons why ...

Construction Update: July

Summer is heating up, and so are our construction sites! See what volunteers have spent their summers doing ...

Thousands of Hearts Build 20 New Dreams

When we put shovels in the ground in September 2014, we couldn’t yet picture the vibrant neighborhood that ...

Vermont House: The Habitat Community Builds More

The core of our work at Habitat East Bay/Silicon Valley is creating the opportunity for people and families ...

Construction Update: June

This month, we have two groups of volunteers building in El Salvador as part of a two-week Global Village ...

5 Ways Your Team Building Day Impacts Habitat

If you spend most of your days behind a desk, a day out of the office might sound like a nice change of pace. ...

Construction Update: May

Just like the weather, things are heating up on our construction sites in Fremont, Martinez, San Jose, and, ...

Together #WomenBuild Change

At Habitat, we believe that every hand makes a difference. When we come together as a community, we can build ...

Faces of Habitat

Meet Jennifer Johnson

Jennifer Johnson was a girl on the brink of adulthood when she moved in to her Habitat home. Jennifer was 17, ...

6 Easy Steps to Create your own Facebook Fundraiser

Creating a Facebook Fundraiser is a fantastic way to have your friends, family, and social networks support a ...

Faces of Habitat

Meet Russell Johnson

In spring we often think of new beginnings, and at Habitat East Bay/Silicon Valley, we’re lucky to witness ...

3 Ways Habitat Builds a Better Planet

Earth Day reminds us to look around and embrace the natural beauty of this planet we call home. Just as we ...

Construction Update: April

Hello, Spring, are you there? The odd weather hasn’t stopped Habitat’s hands-on work in the community! ...

Disaster Relief Update: #HabitatHammersBack

Last year, our neighbors in Texas, Florida, Puerto Rico, and the Caribbean saw their communities devastated ...

How Corporations Help to Build a #BelovedCommunity

Through the eyes of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., a Beloved Community demonstrates equal opportunity, peace, ...

Faces of Habitat

Meet Eligio and his Family

On a Sunday morning in early April, Eligio and his family were just hanging around the house. This was no ...

March: Construction Update

Despite record-breaking rains, volunteers have been making a lot of progress on our new home construction and ...

9 Steps to Building A Habitat Home

Ever wonder how Habitat builds affordable housing in the Bay Area? Melinda Platt, our Project Assistant and ...

AmeriCorps: We Get Things Done

Drew, one of our Site Superintendents, puts it simply: “I don’t think our organization could run without our ...

Jonathan Scott Surprises ReStore Shoppers!

From professional carpenters to bargain hunters, you never know who you’re going to run into at the Habitat ...

Introducing the Women's Leadership Council

The Women’s Leadership Council is putting action behind advocacy when combating with the affordable housing ...

February: Construction Update

Volunteers are sharing the love with Habitat this February! See what their love is building this month! ...

Build More with Your Tax Return

Building more affordable housing means building more opportunity for families to thrive. Habitat for Humanity ...

Welcome Drew & Jonathan Scott, the Newest Habitat Humanitarians

In honor of their dedication and advocacy for affordable homeownership, Drew and Jonathan Scott (yes, the ...

What to expect on a Global Village Trip

Volunteer abroad with Habitat East Bay/Silicon Valley! Join our Global Village team and serve families in ...

Building the Beloved Community

UPDATE March 2018: Beloved Community events have been announced. Click here for more information! Habitat for ...

January 2018: Construction Update

A New Year means new projects are happening on site! See what’s happening and how you can get -involved! ...

Action into Impact

Habitat East Bay/Silicon Valley envisions a world where everyone has a decent place to live. But at Habitat, ...

Faces of Habitat

New Year, New Home

Homeownership can mean many things to a family, from the most profound shift in perspective to the simplest ...

New Tax Reform and your 2017 Charitable Deductions

In light of the passage of the recent tax reform bill, you may want to consult your tax advisor about your ...

#GivingTuesday Results Are In!

Together, you helped us raise a total of $42,050 on #GivingTuesday, making this our most successful day of ...

Double Your Impact This Holiday Season

Donate today and have your gift matched, dollar for dollar. The Reed family will match all gifts made until ...

Faces of Habitat

Celebrating the Life of Daryl Lee

On Saturday, November 25, we lost a member of our Habitat family. Daryl Lee served Habitat for Humanity for ...

Thank You Volunteers

For 31 years, we have been able to team up with selfless individuals, families, companies, and communities in ...

November: Construction Update

With Thanksgiving around the corner, we can’t help but give thanks for our amazing volunteers who make ...

Faces of Habitat

Meet Valerie

It doesn’t take a Habitat Regular Volunteer to tell you that stability is essential to any structure. ...

Faces of Habitat

Meet Lourdes

Every Habitat family has the same incredible view from their windows, no matter where their home is. They ...

Faces of Habitat

Meet Rose

Homeownership through Habitat is all about empowerment. Habitat homeowners are able to break out of the ...

Faces of Habitat

Meet Shawntate

At Habitat, we know that strong futures begin with strong foundations. Habitat homeowners like Shawntate, ...

Faces of Habitat

Meet the Zanella Family

A pay cut may be an odd thing to feel grateful for, but the Zanella family gave thanks when dad, Joseph, got ...

Welcome Home to Six New Homeowners

Few occasions demonstrate the impact of our work more concretely than a Home Dedication. On Saturday, May ...

Put Affordable Housing "On The Table"

The effects of the Bay Area’s affordable housing are felt by us all. It’s a problem that is pricing people ...

Financial Stability is Within Reach!

Did you know that we are a HUD-approved housing counseling agency? This means that if you are hoping to get ...

#HabitatHammersBack Against Hurricanes

UPDATE 10.23.17 Habitat for Humanity has started the long-term phase of the Habitat Hammers Back recovery ...

Responding to the North Bay Wildfires

We send our thoughts and prayers to those affected by the North Bay fires as they continue to devastate ...

Your Voice Was Heard

California’s housing shortage will no longer be overlooked. On September 29, 2017, Gov. Jerry Brown restored ...

Many Faiths Build as One

At Habitat for Humanity, our mission is to bring people together to build homes, community, and hope. This ...

October: Construction Updates

Fall has arrived and we’re getting ready for the winter season. All hands are on deck! See what volunteers ...

Celebrate World Habitat Day

1 in 4 people around the world are living in inadequate housing. That is 1 in 4 people without a safe place ...

Help Pass Major California Housing Legislation

Take action today to help pass a $4 billion housing bond with an additional $1 billion for veteran housing. ...

September: Construction Update

The heat wave seems like it’s here to stay, but construction keeps moving! See what’s new on the construction ...

Meet Your Crew Leader: Amelia Franklin

We are now just days away, the 2017 Build-A-Thon! This Saturday, we will bring together a community of ...

Meet Your Crew Leader: Harrison Mantas

Build-A-Thon is about so much more than hammers and nails. It’s also about the people you meet and the ...

Meet Your Crew Leader: Claire Paquin

We are just a week away from the 2017 Build-A-Thon! While you get excited for the big event, our amazing site ...

Faces of Habitat

Meet Kirk Miller

Our work here at Habitat for Humanity East Bay/Silicon Valley would simply not be possible without the hearts ...

Repairing Homes in San Jose Flood Area

Last month, we shared that our Home Repair Program was working quickly to respond to the historic Coyote ...

Central Commons: A New 30-Home Community

As housing costs soar at a rate that far outstrips income growth, no one feels it more acutely than families ...

August: Construction Updates

With summer vacations coming to an end, our sites are revving up for a busy fall! See whats going on on site ...

Faces of Habitat

Meet Carol Gillespie

When Coyote Creek flooded parts of San Jose in February 2017, Carol Gillespie was shocked at the amount of ...

Why I Served with AmeriCorps

Why I Served with AmeriCorps by Melinda Platt, AmeriCorps National Construction Crew Leader My first ...

June: Construction Updates

The summer heat is not holding volunteers back from doing incredible work on site. Between breaking ground on ...

Faces of Habitat

Meet Mike Heller

While Mike Heller was working in Silicon Valley 13 years ago, his boss organized a “teambuild” day on our ...

Faces of Habitat

Meet the Yemane Family

Rut Yemane is, above all, a caretaker. In every aspect of her life, Rut exemplifies this spirit. Whether she ...

Faces of Habitat

Meet the Eleazar Family

Among her many hobbies, one of Bianca Eleazar’s favorite activities is to “explore and see new places.” This ...

Why I Served with AmeriCorps - Ruben

Why I served with AmeriCorps- By Ruben Bravo Before applying to be the ReStore Marketing Coordinator, an ...

Women Build Week 2017

In May, we had a chance to highlight the role of women in our work to create positive change in our ...

May: Construction Update

With rainy days behind us, we’re looking forward to a summer full of sunshine and volunteers on site, because ...

April: Construction Update

April is Volunteer Appreciation Month! Thanks to the hard work of our volunteers in April (and every month!), ...

Faces of Habitat

Meet the Aremu-Bello Family

Mulikatu and Abdul Aremu-Bello came to the United States from Ghana hoping to find a better place to start ...

March: Construction Update

Luck was on our side this St. Patrick’s Day, making March a big month on the construction site! See what has ...

San Jose Flood Relief

In February, Coyote Creek rose to historic levels and quickly flooded entire neighborhoods of San Jose. ...

Faces of Habitat

Meet Joanne McDonough

Whenever Joanne McDonough walks onto a Habitat site, she brings her energizing smile and spirit along with ...

One Vision, Many Voices

Earlier this month, Habitat EBSV President and CEO, Janice Jensen, and Board Member Vince Salinas joined ...

February: Construction Update

In true Valentine’s Day spirit, our volunteers were sharing the love this past month. Despite ...

Making Finances Manageable

Habitat EBSV knows that it takes more than hammers and nails to bring homeownership within the reach of ...

January: Construction Update

INew year, new you! Looking to give back in the New Year? Volunteer with Habitat, and make a difference you ...

Playhouse Builds Love & Peace

Last year, Houzz, a home remodeling and design platform, and The American Institute of Architects teamed up ...

Faces of Habitat

Meet Adriana Resendez

Before Adriana Resendez's family connected with Habitat East Bay/Silicon Valley in 1992, they were rootless. ...

Faces of Habitat

Meet Anthony

When you ask 27-year-old Anthony what kind of childhood he had, the first word out of his mouth is ...

Faces of Habitat

Ken and Jennifer Peterson

Ken Petersen, his wife, Jennifer, and their family have called the Bay Area home for over 50 years, but he ...

Faces of Habitat

Meet the Welde Family

“I feel like we won the lottery,” Fisehaye Welde says as he and his wife, Selemawit, wait to start a day of ...

Faces of Habitat

Meet the Arcega Family

Before partnering with Habitat in 1991, Leticia and Manuel Arcega were raising four children in a cramped ...

Faces of Habitat

Meet David More

15 years and counting For David More, volunteering at Habitat for Humanity comes down to camaraderie with his ...

Faces of Habitat

Meet the Herrera Family

Before the Herreras purchased a home through Habitat for Humanity East Bay/Silicon Valley in 1995, Doraida ...

Faces of Habitat

Meet Monica Mack

“While I was using the chop saw to finish up from framing for home in Antioch, I noticed the future homeowner ...

A Sincere Thank You To Our Sponsors

Sharks Foundation

First Republic Bank

Patelco Credit Union

Dean & Margaret Lesher Foundation

Western Digital Corporation

Simpson Strong-Tie

City National Bank

Bank Of America

First Pres of Berkeley

Sony Interactive Entertainment

Sobrato Family Foundation

Prometheus Philanthropic Fund