Habitat for Humanity

Tamara Stanley has seen civilization’s outlying regions and places high value on community collaboration:  As a Rotary Group Study Exchange participant she visited Siberia and studied Not Nor Profit, community ventures.  Her local leaderships posts include Hanna Boys Center and Sonoma County Volunteers.  As Executive Director of Habitat for Humanity (H4H) Sonoma County since September 2014, Tamara is directing this Chapter in keeping pace with the organization’s national standing as the #1 ranked Harris Poll rating in the United States Not for Profit category.  Her recap of H4H’s accomplishments and goals is edifying.
 
Josh Blankenship, local founder of Sonoma County’s H4H in 1984, had vision, and a plethora of perspiration:  From his driveway nearly 30 years ago he was determined to see Habitat for Humanity become more than an address in Sonoma County. Today, Habitat has inspired & constructed multiple homes and significantly improved people’s lives, providing shelter, hope and success driven stability through community partnerships and good old fashioned sweat equity.  H4H has a home-a-year to the credit of its volunteers and recipients.
 
Dedicated volunteers of all skill levels in over 1400 local chapters in the United States and 70 abroad are building affordable homes.  Through alliances with groups and individuals, ranging from Whirlpool Appliance, Lowes, Delta Faucets, Faith-based communities and service clubs, Habitat builds and sells homes to persons qualifying through three main criteria:  Level of need, willingness to work 500 hours (either building or in a Restore location) and ability to repay their loan.  Loans typically do not exceed 30% of income.
 
If being part of providing affordable housing appeals to you, Habitat for Humanity can be your window of opportunity:  Volunteer labor, donate or purchase materials at Restore.  Your contribution adds to community stability, enhanced self-esteem, and sharing success with people moving on up!