State Farm renews partnership with Habitat for Humanity to build stronger and more resilient homes in communities across the U.S.
Grants will support Habitat Strong program and youth programs
ATLANTA (Sept. 6, 2023) — State Farm announced today that it is renewing its longstanding partnership with Habitat for Humanity. As part of the renewal, State Farm is contributing $650,000 toward youth engagement programs and $150,000 to support the global housing nonprofit’s disaster resilience program, Habitat Strong.
Through the partnership, State Farm will continue a decade-plus commitment of supporting youth engagement programs that benefit the homeowners, the youth participants and the communities they serve. Additional grant funding will support the building of efficient, resilient housing in disaster-prone communities across the U.S.
The Habitat Strong grant will enable 29 local Habitat for Humanity affiliates to build or repair homes this year. Each home will surpass standard industry building codes to better withstand threatening climate conditions.
“State Farm is committed to being a good neighbor in communities across the country,” said Apsara Sorensen, corporate responsibility director at State Farm. “We are thrilled to continue our support of Habitat for Humanity’s youth engagement programs and to contribute to the building of more resilient and weather-resistant homes through Habitat Strong.”
Habitat Strong homes are built to be more durable and resilient against natural disasters as well as with shifts in everyday conditions like longer cooling seasons and more frequent rains. The program was created in 2016 in response to increasing evidence that homes built to standard building codes were not equipped to survive severe weather events. In 2019, Habitat Strong broadened its focus to include energy conservation and indoor air quality, recognizing that efficient homes with healthy indoor environments also mitigate the less familiar effects of a changing climate, such as rolling blackouts and outdoor pollution.
“Every year, millions of families are displaced by natural disasters including hurricanes, wildfires and tornadoes. As global warming and climate change continue to make weather events more severe, the need for stronger homes is increasingly apparent,” said Adrienne Goolsby, senior vice president of U.S. and Canada Habitat for Humanity International. “Efficient, hazard-resilient homes should not be considered a luxury. Everyone deserves a safe and affordable home. State Farm’s partnership allows us to increase equitable access to stronger, more resilient communities across the country.”
Habitat for Humanity and State Farm began their partnership in 1994. Since then, State Farm has donated nearly $15 million to support Habitat’s vision of a world where everyone has a decent place to live. State Farm’s local community grants have generated an additional $50 million in funds to Habitat for Humanity. State Farm has also supported Habitat’s youth programs, which have engaged more than 800,000 youth and more than $3.2 million has been raised to match State Farm grants by Habitat organizations in 300 communities across the country.
About Habitat for Humanity
Driven by the vision that everyone needs a decent place to live, Habitat for Humanity found its earliest inspirations as a grassroots movement on an interracial community farm in south Georgia. Since its founding in 1976, the Christian housing organization has since grown to become a leading global nonprofit working in local communities across all 50 states in the U.S. and in more than 70 countries. Families and individuals in need of a hand up partner with Habitat for Humanity to build or improve a place they can call home. Habitat homeowners help build their own homes alongside volunteers and pay an affordable mortgage. Through financial support, volunteering or adding a voice to support affordable housing, everyone can help families achieve the strength, stability and self-reliance they need to build better lives for themselves. Through shelter, we empower. To learn more, visit habitat.org.
About State Farm
For 100 years, the mission of State Farm has been and continues to be to help people manage the risks of everyday life, recover from the unexpected, and realize their dreams. State Farm and its affiliates are the largest providers of auto and home insurance in the United States. Its more than 19,400 agents and approximately 61,764 employees serve over 91 million policies and accounts – which includes auto, fire, life, health, commercial policies and financial services accounts. Commercial auto insurance, along with coverage for renters, business owners, boats and motorcycles, is available. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company is the parent of the State Farm family of companies. State Farm is ranked No. 44 on the 2023 Fortune 500 list of largest companies. For more information, please visit statefarm.com.