Habitat for Humanity to Help Improve the Lives of Local Families

From The Signal

Habitat for Humanity of Greater Los Angeles (Habitat LA) has been awarded $300,000 from Thrivent as part of an ongoing partnership between Habitat and Thrivent, which aims to help families achieve strength, stability and self-reliance through affordable housing. For more than a decade, Thrivent has partnered with Habitat LA, along with other Habitat offices across the United States, to build or repair over 4,800 homes and sent over 1,200 teams around the world to build more homes. Habitat LA is thrilled to announce its funding will be used to build and repair seven homes in Los Angeles.

Thrivent’s donation of $300,000 will fund two different Habitat LA building opportunities, which includes two newly constructed homes, in Long Beach and Los Angeles, and five home repair projects across Greater Los Angeles.

“A home is where families grow, memories are made and possibilities arise. But sadly, not everyone has a safe, healthy place to call home. Instead, many in Southern California are struggling to get by, forced to live in substandard housing. We’re excited to partner with Habitat for Humanity of Greater Los Angeles to help ensure families have decent, affordable housing,” said Geoff Delahanty, a wealth advisor with Thrivent Financial.

Thrivent has committed $12 million in a 2018 partnership with Habitat for Humanity, which will be used to partner with families and mobilize volunteers in three ways: Thrivent Builds Homes, Thrivent Builds Repairs and Thrivent Builds Worldwide trips.
• Thrivent Builds Homes improves communities by helping Habitat build homes in partnership with families in need of decent, affordable housing. In Los Angeles County, two homes will be built this year.
• Thrivent Builds Repairs provides for the repair of existing homes in partnership with families who lack the resources or ability to make the repairs themselves. The Thrivent Builds Repairs program will complete five repairs in Greater Los Angeles this year.
• Thrivent Builds Worldwide allows Thrivent members and others to give financially and volunteer their time as they travel to international or domestic locations for a week or more at a time to build Habitat homes and experience other cultures.

Since the national partnership started in 2005 and through 2017, Thrivent and its members have contributed more than $240 million and more than 5.2 million volunteer hours in the U.S. and around the world.

“Thrivent and its members have made a tremendous impact on this community and we are very grateful for their continued support,” said Erin Rank, president and CEO, Habitat LA. “They not only raise the funds needed to build at least one home with us each year, they also engage hundreds of volunteers to help build them. This year, Thrivent’s support will impact more families than ever as we build two new homes together and provide much-needed repairs to seven more.”

Thrivent remains the largest non-governmental supporter of Habitat for Humanity International.