On a Mission, Together

Imagine, for a moment, the sounds of a Habitat construction site. Hammers striking nails. Table saws whirring. Celebratory cheers as walls are raised.

Our sites haven’t been silent these last many months—site staff, AmeriCorps members, and regular volunteers continued to build through most of the pandemic. But finally, those uplifting sounds are back at full volume as we welcome volunteers to site once again and begin to bring our new mission statement to life.

I’m in awe of this very special Habitat community. Whether you are a homeowner, volunteer, supporter, advocate, team member, or neighbor, you help to make the Twin Cities stronger and more equitable. Thank you.

You've helped to change the lives of hundreds of your neighbors over the last year—during a time when home was more important than ever.

As we emerge from the worst of the pandemic and maintain momentum for racial justice, Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity is developing a bold strategic plan to guide our work in the coming years.

All of you—our Habitat community—will play a vital role as Twin Cities Habitat expands our Homeownership Program and prioritizes racial equity in all we do. Our team took an important first step by introducing a new organizational mission, vision, and values:

Mission: Bring people together to create, preserve, and promote affordable homeownership and advance racial equity in housing.

Vision: An equitable Twin Cities region where all families have access to the transformational power of homeownership.

Values: Rooted in faith and community. Inspired by hope. Committed to anti-racism. Driven to innovate.

These statements are both aspirational and true to who we are at Habitat today. We will bring these statements to life as we develop and execute our strategic plan, which will roll out in early 2022.

As we look toward the future, Habitat will focus our work on three top priorities: 

1. Expand Homeownership: With your support, Habitat will innovate to significantly expand homeownership opportunities in future years and continue to preserve and stabilize homeownership.
2. Advance Racial Equity: Minnesota’s racial homeownership gap is among the worst in the nation. We will center the lived experiences of Foundational Black Americans (descendants of enslaved Africans) to learn, build, partner, redesign our programs, and realign our advocacy—all with the goal of moving the needle on our persistent housing disparities.
3. Engage Community to Strengthen Our Foundation: A strong community is the foundation of Habitat’s work. We will nourish and grow our partnerships, focusing especially on connecting with communities of color. We will be wise stewards of the resources entrusted to us by the community by maintaining our operational and financial excellence.

I hope you are as excited as I am about this path forward for Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity.

Whether you are a homeowner, volunteer, supporter, client, advocate, team member, or neighbor, you are an important part of this vibrant Habitat community. Over the coming years, you will help bring our bold new mission to life to expand homeownership access and advance racial equity in housing.

I look forward to seeing you and your family at Habitat events and sites soon.