St. Monica has been partnering with Habitat for Humanity for over 20 years and is a founding member of its Los Angeles Catholic Coalition - which is marking its tenth year in 2024.

What is Habitat for Humanity?

Habitat for Humanity has grown from a grassroots effort that began on a community farm in southern Georgia in 1976 to a global nonprofit housing organization in nearly 1,400 communities across the U.S. and in over 70 countries. Habitat for Humanity’s vision for a world where everyone has a decent place to live unites more than 2 million volunteers annually. Its mission is to put God’s love into action by bringing people together to build homes, communities, and hope. Former President Jimmy Carter is not the founder of Habitat of Habitat for Humanity. He and his wife, Rosalynn, were longtime supporters and dedicated volunteers.

Families and individuals in need of a hand-up partner with Habitat for Humanity to build or improve a place they can call home. Habitat homeowners help build their own homes alongside volunteers and pay an affordable mortgage.

Local Habitat affiliates such as Habitat for Humanity of Greater LA are independent, nonprofit organizations that operate within a specific service area and further the Habitat for Humanity mission. Each affiliate focuses its building, repair, and fundraising efforts within its local area.

Since 1990, Habitat LA has built, rehabilitated, and repaired more than 1500 houses in neighborhoods across Greater LA and the world. Together with volunteers and future homeowners, Habitat LA has improved the housing stock throughout Los Angeles. They believe in developing affordable housing that is also sustainable and incorporates building practices that meet the LEED and CALGreen standards. Donations of new and gently used furniture, home accessories, building materials, and appliances made to Habitat ReStores help to divert millions of pounds from local landfills and all proceeds go right back into supporting the work of Habitat LA.

St. Monica and Habitat for Humanity

Our parish has been supporting Habitat for Humanity of Greater LA and other affiliates for over 20 years. We have always had a strong volunteer corps to bring to building sites all over Los Angeles County. Recent sites have been in south LA, Long Beach, Culver City, Montebello, and Lynwood. We have also sent teams of volunteers to build in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina, to New Mexico, and to Belfast, Northern Ireland.

In 2014, St. Monica, along with other parishes in the Archdiocese, such as American Martyrs and St. James, came together to form the Catholic Coalition to pool our resources and have a greater impact, while working to engage more parishes to support the mission. Each year the Coalition sets a fundraising goal of $150,000 to cover the cost of building one home.

To support all these activities and the funds needed to build homes we have annually held fundraising events at St. Monica such as our upcoming Gameshow Challenge on January 27th. Please consider attending to support our cause and learn more about the impact of Habitat for Humanity in Los Angeles. If you are unable to attend, a gift of any amount is welcomed and appreciated.