family of four sitting in the doorframe of their home together smiling.

Homes, Communities, Hope + You

Habitat’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic

Everyone was affected by the global public health crisis and the accompanying shocks of COVID-19. During this unprecedented moment, every one of us was forced to deeply consider the fundamental importance of home — of having safe, decent and affordable shelter.

At the same time, in locations around the world, everyone looked for ways to bring light and hope to challenging times. Habitat for Humanity knows that we are never more human than when we come together in an hour of need. We’ve lived that truth every day for more than 40 years. And in this moment, we needed your help more than ever.

“Home has rarely been more of a life or death situation.”

— Leilani Farha, UN special rapporteur on the right of adequate housing

Our Homes, Communities, Hope + You campaign, a network-wide fundraising initiative, supported Habitat’s work in communities all across the United States and around the world. Our neighbors and our communities were already experiencing a housing crisis, and COVID-19 revealed its extent — and added to its urgency. Millions of families already were struggling with unhealthy living conditions, lack of access to clean water and the financial impossibilities of unaffordable rent. With COVID-19, they were joined by millions more who lost income as businesses closed and workers lost jobs.

And so, as we always do, we connected people, we helped our neighbors, and we were there alongside families as they began to fight back from adversity. We worked at the grassroots level, and we advocated at every level for those among us who simply needed a hand up. But — through this campaign and always — we have only done all of this with your help.

The effects of the pandemic will be far-reaching. The need of our neighbors remains pronounced.

For more than 40 years, that’s exactly what we’ve done: build homes, communities and hope. Thank you for supporting our work through the Homes, Communities, Hope +You campaign — and beyond.