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Kathryn McCarthy
PR and Marketing Manager
Phone: (510) 251-6304 x313
Email:kmccarthy@habitateb.org
Habitat for Humanity Merger Means More Housing for Low-Income East Bay Families
April 26, 2007
Oakland, CA: Habitat for Humanity East Bay and Mt. Diablo Habitat for Humanity have merged into one affiliate that will serve both Alameda and Contra Costa counties – the entire East Bay. The two affiliates will combine their resources, boards and staffs to serve more than 50 cities and unincorporated areas in the East Bay. By streamlining operations, the new Habitat for Humanity East Bay will be able to increase the number of new homeownership opportunities for low-income families in a real estate market that makes affordable housing extremely challenging.
After years of working closely together to provide affordable housing in the East Bay, the two affiliates began talking about joining forces under the direction of Mt. Diablo Habitat’s Board President Mike Oliver, Habitat East Bay’s Board President Michael O’Kane and Executive Director Janice Jensen. The merger, which was approved by both boards of directors, “will enable us to do a much better job of serving both Alameda and Contra Costa counties as one united Habitat,” according to O’Kane. The mission of providing affordable ownership housing opportunities for those who need it most will continue. The transformation also makes Habitat for Humanity East Bay the second largest home producing Habitat affiliate in California.
“This is an exciting change because ultimately we will be able to acquire more land, build more homes and partner with more families,” according to Jensen. “We will be able to advocate more effectively for low- and very low-income families throughout the East Bay. We hope to increase the visibility of Habitat for Humanity and our mission in the region and beyond,” she said.
Habitat for Humanity East Bay was established in 1988 to serve Alameda and Western Contra Costa counties. Founded in 1990, the Mt. Diablo affiliate was created to serve Eastern and Central Contra Costa County. To date the affiliates combined have provided housing to more than 180 families across 19 developments in 9 cities throughout the East Bay. In January 2008, the merged affiliate will celebrate their twenty year anniversary and the completion of their 200th home!
The newly merged board of directors will be comprised of twenty volunteer directors. “We will be able to help more people in need,” said Mike Oliver, who will serve as Vice President. Please continue to check back to our website for updates, more information, and ways to get involved.
The work of the organization will continue under the direction of Executive Director Janice Jensen. “Mergers involve change and the most challenging phase is integration,” she said. “We have a tremendous team that is excited, innovative and also determined to partner with more communities, build more homes, and ultimately help more families in the East Bay.”
Background Information
Many Habitat for Humanity affiliates operating in the U.S. and Canada began as grassroots organizations and several urban affiliates have grown to a size where they may be competing with neighboring affiliates for land and resources. The East Bay merger follows similar merger models, such as that of Los Angeles and Long Beach in 2005.
Habitat partner families earn 30 to 80 percent of area median income. For the East Bay Area, that translates to as little as $33,500 per year for a family of four. Partner families must demonstrate a need for adequate housing, be able to repay a zero-percent interest loan, and be willing to partner with Habitat East Bay to invest hundreds of hours of “sweat equity” into building their homes and communities.
Despite a slight drop in sale prices, the median price for a single-family home in the Bay Area is still well over $600,000, forcing many hard working families to live in substandard or overcrowded housing conditions.
Habitat for Humanity East Bay is a nonprofit independent affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International. Its mission is to create successful homeownership opportunities for families with limited incomes by building sustainable housing and revitalizing neighborhoods. To date, Habitat for Humanity East Bay has constructed more than 180 homes in Alameda and Contra Costa counties and provided funding to house 400 families overseas through donations to other Habitat affiliates.
