Habitat for Humanity Silicon Valley, an affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International, was incorporated as a nonprofit organization on July 21, 1986, as Bay and Valley Habitat for Humanity. In 1998 we changed our name to more accurately reflect our location. In 2007, we again updated our name to Habitat for Humanity Silicon Valley to align ourselves with the national concept of “One Habitat”.
Our Mission
We transform families and strengthen communities by partnering with volunteers, the community, and qualified families with low incomes, by building decent, affordable housing for long-term home ownership.
Our Vision
To be the pre-eminent affordable home builder for hard-working, responsible families with low incomes in Santa Clara County wanting the stability and security of long-term home ownership.
Who We Serve
We serve families who currently live in inadequate housing, are willing to volunteer a minimum of 500 hours of “sweat equity” labor on Habitat homes, and have an ability to pay for their home. All Habitat partner families participate in our Homeowner Self-Sufficiency program, designed to provide families with additional skills needed to increase economic self-sufficiency and become successful homeowners.
How Volunteers Help
Volunteers are an integral part of Habitat’s program. Volunteers, both skilled and unskilled, have helped build 50 homes to date. Volunteers also serve on our many committees, help in the office, and work on special projects. The houses are built using volunteer labor and tax-deductible donations of money and materials contributed by churches, businesses, foundations, and by individuals.
How We Change Lives
At Habitat for Humanity we believe that decent and affordable housing empowers people to reach their full potential. By freeing families from the unending struggles that accompany inadequate shelter, our houses open doors to increased self esteem, self reliance, and sense of community. With the stability of a safe and affordable home, children do better in school and families set ambitious goals for their lives. Neighborhoods are revitalized and in the process of bringing people together to build, Habitat creates a strong sense of community. Habitat is a permanent and sustainable solution to a hard-working, deserving family’s housing problems.
Guiding Principles
Partnering Families
We serve our clients with dignity, compassion, love and respect.
We allow our clients to define their own family unit without prejudice.
We select families who are hard-working, financially responsible, and who are assets to their communities.
We understand that education and training for our families is essential to successful, long-term home ownership.
Volunteers and Donor
We actively engage our volunteers, recognizing their contribution is essential to our success.
We invest in our volunteers, who are the predominant labor force used to build our homes.
We create opportunities for people to express their support of their community through the physical action of building a neighbor’s home.
We are good stewards of our contributed assets by striving to improve our processes and behaving in an ethical and responsible manner.
Homes
We build simple, decent and affordable homes that adequately meet the needs of our families.
We build environmentally responsible and durable homes.
We build attractive homes that blend into the neighborhood for which our families and their neighborhoods can be proud.
Partners
We recognize that to be successful we must cultivate and collaborate with our partners, i.e., municipalities, contractors and other non-profit organizations.
