Habitat for Humanity of Orange County part of $9.2 million national home-building effort in 2012

Photo courtesy of www.openideo.com

          SANTA ANA, Calif. ―  Habitat for Humanity of Orange County has been awarded $148,434 to build a home here.

          This grant, providing 55 percent of the cost of construction, comes from Thrivent Builds with Habitat for Humanity, Minneapolis-based Thrivent Financial for Lutherans’ unique partnership with Habitat for Humanity International.

          “This is the eighth home we’ve built in seven years with the support of the Thrivent Builds program,” said Sharon Ellis, president and CEO of Habitat for Humanity of Orange County. “The Thrivent Builds alliance is helping Habitat for Humanity of Orange County increase the number of families served in our community. We are very grateful for Thrivent’s support of our efforts to provide decent, affordable homes in partnership with families who need a hand up, not a handout.”

          Habitat for Humanity of Orange County is celebrating its award in conjunction with an international announcement made Dec. 5, 2011, in Minneapolis, when the partnership’s $160 million mark was surpassed with a $9.2 million commitment for 2012, the seventh year of a strong alliance between the two organizations.

          Habitat for Humanity’s relationship with Thrivent Financial brings the financial, volunteer and advocacy resources of Thrivent Financial together with the affordable housing construction leadership of hundreds of local Habitat for Humanity affiliates. To date, more than 480,000 volunteers have donated more than 3 million hours to construct 1,600 homes in the U.S.

          The 2012 commitment will fund the construction and rehabilitation of 142 Habitat for Humanity homes in 32 U.S. states, including the home built by Habitat for Humanity of Orange County in Santa Ana.

          More than 500 volunteers from throughout Orange County, including Thrivent members and Lutheran congregations, and the prospective homeowners, will help build the Santa Ana home.

          “Construction on the new Thrivent Builds home in Santa Ana will begin early this summer,” Ellis said. “And we look forward to welcoming a very excited family into their new home in time for the holidays.”