Local Habitat for Humanity Seeks Volunteers for First Altadena Home Build

San Gabriel Valley Habitat for Humanity, a nonprofit organization that helps families build and affordable housing, has put out a call for volunteers to support their project to build a new home for a deserving family in Altadena. This will be the first Habitat for Humanity house in the town. 

The organization said its core belief is that affordable housing plays a critical role in strong and stable communities.

Over the last year and a half, the organization has been actively promoting the project throughout Altadena, collaborating with local businesses, community organizations, and attending various events to raise awareness and encourage volunteer participation, according to San Gabriel Valley Habitat for Humanity Director of Marketing, Communications & Engagement Faith Mellinger.

“We really want the community to be involved in every aspect of this project, including coming together to help us actually do the physical building,” Mellinger said, stressing the fact that community members join in the construction process. “One of the unique things is that the family who will be purchasing this home actually spends a lot of time building also. So many of our volunteers work alongside our future homeowners.”

As summer brings challenges in attracting volunteers due to the hot weather, Mellinger acknowledged a decline in signups for the coming month of August. Nevertheless, the organization is well-prepared to ensure volunteers’ safety and comfort during construction. 

“Most of the days, we can have the fans going, things like that to keep it cooler,” she said. “And then, of course, our construction crew takes lots of breaks, lots of water breaks, and pays attention to the needs of our volunteers.” 

Volunteers play a vital role in Habitat’s mission to provide affordable homeownership opportunities. Mellinger shared inspiring stories of volunteers discovering new skills, finding a sense of community, and even changing career paths after participating in Habitat projects.

“The thing that everybody kind of says is they were able to do more than they thought they knew, learned new skills, and it was a lot of fun,” she said.

The ongoing Altadena project, located at 2399 Olive Avenue, is set to be a three-bedroom, two-bathroom home for a family of five currently living in a small space. The completion target is set for mid-September, and volunteers of all skill levels above the age of 16 are encouraged to sign up through the San Gabriel Valley Habitat for Humanity website.

“We have no skill level requirements,” Mellinger explained. “You can be as old as you feel physically able. You can have no skills or you could have 20 years of construction experience behind you.”

To sign up as a volunteer, individuals can visit www.sgvhabitat.org and access the volunteer calendar on Volunteer Hub. While walk-in volunteers are welcomed, Mellinger encouraged prospective volunteers to sign up in advance to ensure proper task planning and necessary paperwork completion.

In addition to construction work, Habitat offers various volunteer opportunities, including work in their resource resale stores, office support, and outreach events.

Through community engagement and volunteer support, San Gabriel Valley Habitat for Humanity continues to build a brighter future for deserving families, fostering hope and stability one home at a time. 

For more information on how to get involved or to hear testimonials from past volunteers, visit the San Gabriel Valley Habitat for Humanity volunteer website, https://sgvhabitat.org/get-involved/volunteer/.