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 George Floyd. I grieve for Mr. Floyd’s family and loved ones, and I grieve for the community for whom this horror is the most recent manifestation of a long, deeply-rooted history of hate, injustice, and indignity. We see this history played out in inequalities throughout our society, such as health, income, justice, education, and – yes – housing.

At Habitat, our vision is of a world where everyone has a decent place to live. Our work, every day, strives to take us closer to this vision – to combat the systemic inequality that has shut too many of our neighbors out of housing opportunities. I urge you to stay committed to this work, and the broader work of anti-racism throughout our society, so we can truly bring Habitat’s vision within reach.

Habitat for Humanity was born out of the ideals of inclusivity, partnership, and community. I am determined that we uphold those core values and continue to be a force for healing and positive change.

We kneel with those who are grieving, those who are angry. We also stand with our sister affiliate, Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity, whose people are feeling the pain of their community acutely. For some suggestions on how to take action, I invite you to visit their website.

Janice Jensen
President & CEO
Habitat for Humanity East Bay/Silicon Valley