History

Our History

Since our founding in 1990, Habitat for Humanity of Greater Los Angeles (HFH GLA) has built and renovated more than 350 homes locally.  HFH GLA plans to serve more than 200 more families in need in the cities of Lynwood, South Gate and Long Beach over the next three years through the Neighborhood Stabilization Program 2. HFH GLA serves 112 cities and unincorporated areas in Los Angeles County, including 70 communities within the City of Los Angeles.

MILESTONES

1990 Habitat for Humanity South Bay/Long Beach affiliate is founded.
1991 Habitat for Humanity – Los Angeles affiliate and Habitat for Humanity Southeast Los Angeles are founded.
1992 Affiliate’s first home is completed on Leigh Court in the City of Long Beach.
1995 Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter volunteer with more than 1,500 volunteers from 39 states and five countries in Watts, CA as part of the 11th annual Jimmy Carter Work Project. Twenty-one houses were built in this community during the build.
1997 Affiliate hosts a week-long Church of the Brethren Blitz Build in conjunction with the church’s national conference.
2000 Hollywood for Habitat for Humanity, an entertainment partnership between Habitat for Humanity and the entertainment industry is established and kicks off with a 20-house blitz build in Wilmington, CA. Affiliate is awarded with its first Clarence Jordan Award for Creativity and Innovation by Habitat for Humanity International (HFHI).
2001 Affiliate is named as the affiliate with “Most Homes Built in the Region” and its second Clarence Jordan Award for Creativity and Innovation by Habitat for Humanity International. Affiliate completes a home on Gardenia in the City of Long Beach in 16 days – fastest completion to date.
2003 The affiliate’s first five-year Strategic Plan is adopted and the affiliate hosts Habitat for Humanity International’s National Conference for in Long Beach, CA.
2004 Six homes in the City of Long Beach are built through the “Six Homes in Six Weeks” blitz build with Hollywood for Habitat for Humanity. The first ever Power Women Power Tools ™ build is held. Affiliate is also awarded with “Most Homes Built in California” by HFHI. The affiliate opens its first Home Improvement Store in Gardena.
2005 Merger of three Los Angeles affiliates to one united affiliate: Habitat for Humanity of Greater Los Angeles. HFH GLA participates as a host city for NBC’s Today show for the Operation Home Delivery program to build house frames for the victims of Hurricanes Rita & Katrina along the Gulf region. Hollywood for Habitat for Humanity held their Fall Build, building with stars of WB and other entertainment industry partners.
2006 Sixteen condominium style homes are completed in Harbor Gateway, marking the first project of its kind for the affiliate and celebrated through the first Block Party housewarming event. HFH GLA builds the frames of an additional 10 homes to send to the gulf region through the Operation Home Delivery project and raises over $1.5 million to aid the local gulf region affiliates in their disaster relief efforts.
2007 Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter return to Los Angeles to volunteer with more than 3,000 local and international volunteers as a part of the 24th annual Jimmy Carter Work Project. Thirty new homes were built in San Pedro and southeast Los Angeles and seventy homes were renovated through the A Brush with Kindness program, which was first launched during this build event. In addition, the 30 new homes built during this build event marks the first ever LEED-Silver certified homes built by the affiliate. HFH GLA kicks off its multi-year “Building a Greater Los Angeles” campaign.
2008 HFH GLA holds its first gala event, honoring Governor Schwarzenegger and First Lady Maria Shriver, Hon. Henry Cisneros, Ed Begley, Jr., and Citibank for their commitment and support. Hollywood for Habitat for Humanity holds its first ever celebrity auction benefitting HFH GLA. HFH GLA opens its Housing Center for Excellence in Carson.
2009 The Power Women Power Tools build marks its fifth year anniversary. HFH GLA is awarded its third Clarence Jordan Award for Creativity and Innovation for the Nickels for Nails program by HFHI. HFH GLA is awarded as an “Outstanding Nonprofit” by the Long Beach Chamber of Commerce. Hollywood for Habitat for Humanity holds the first ever House that General Hospital Built build day.
2010 HFH GLA celebrates its 20th anniversary as an affiliate and Hollywood for Habitat for Humanity celebrates its 10th anniversary helping families in need. HFH GLA receives LEED-Silver certification for the home at Blodgett Avenue in the City of Downey. HFH GLA plans to finish 10 LEED certified homes on Imperial Highway in the City of Lynwood and begin work on 3 homes in the City of Long Beach.  HFH GLA is awarded over $33 million in funding from HUD for the Neighborhood Stabilization Program to build and rehabilitate homes in the cities of Long Beach, South Gate and Lynwood over the next three years. HFH GLA opens its second ReStore in the City of Norwalk.

Our memories…