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We have accomplished much together
Dear Friend,
One thing we can always count on is that seasons change. Today, I’m overjoyed by the successful seasons we have had together, and really excited about the future for Habitat for Humanity Greater Fresno Area in the seasons ahead.
Just over five years ago, I was honored to be selected as the third CEO of this amazing organization. I was encouraged to put ‘God’s love into action,’ and was tasked with bold initiatives that would not only transform the organization, but also the lives of the many families we planned to serve each and every year.
Before I share more about what we have accomplished, I want to personally let you know that on January 5, 2021 I will be joining Fresno Mayor-Elect Jerry Dyer's Administration in an executive leadership role.
We know that building strength, stability, and self-reliance through affordable shelter has been the cornerstone of Habitat’s mission since 1985, and I am thrilled to be taking what we have done together and bringing it further into the forefront of our great City.
We have accomplished so much together over the years, with a bright future ahead for Habitat. Join me in reflecting on just a glimpse of what God’s grace has allowed us to accomplish together in recent years:
- Expansion: For 33 years, we served Fresno County residents with 99% of our Habitat families residing in Fresno or Clovis rather than from rural Fresno County or other outlying communities. In 2016 we extended our reach into rural Fresno and Madera counties to add them to our service area, which has allowed us to serve more families with the greatest needs more equitably.
- Families Served: Prior to 2015, we served roughly 10 families each year. Today, we are serving nearly 250 families per year through a host of programs designed to preserve homes, enhance neighborhoods, and increase the number of homeowners in our community.
- Land Banking: When I started in 2015, land availability was a challenge for us. At best, we had a handful of lots to develop, which greatly limited our ability to serve more families. Today, we are blessed to have nearly 100 lots at our fingertips to serve families in Fresno and Madera counties.
- Financing: Habitat is in the business of serving more people, and a change in our business model was necessary to allow us to do that. Typically, developers like Habitat use a Construction loan to fund new home construction, but that wasn’t our model. We used cash-on-hand instead which limited our ability to expand home construction and to fund other vital services. Now, this has changed, thanks to several financial institutions who are now providing Habitat and its homebuyers affordable construction lending and permanent financing. This has led to a more sustainable and scalable model.
- ReStore - Our Crown Jewel: When I started, we had 1 location and now we have 3, one each in Clovis, Fresno and Madera. These stores connect the public to our work and provide much needed resources to fund our mission.
- Future Planning: Habitat’s season ahead is well-planned and financed. The Board of Directors this past spring approved an ambitious 5-year strategic plan with a strong focus on land acquisition, staff and program development, the number of families served, and resource development. This plan positions Habitat well for the future and for the families to be served.
To accomplish what we have to date, it has truly ‘taken a village.’ And none of this could have been accomplished without you! In the last five years we have gone from 5,000 annual volunteer instances to over 24,000 a year. Our community partners and donors have stepped up in their commitment to help meet the needs of the most vulnerable through housing. And now more than ever, in this current season we need your renewed commitment to Habitat. Safe, decent, and affordable shelter has never been more important in our nation, state, and region.
Stay tuned, in the coming weeks Habitat’s Board of Directors will be selecting our new CEO. I can’t wait for the community to meet our new CEO and only pray that we show this person the same sort of support you graciously have shown me.
In conclusion, loving our neighbors as ourselves has been at the heart of everything we do. I look forward to continuing to demonstrate His love for people in my new role. I want to thank you for allowing me to be a part of your lives in this season and look forward to our future together. If you have any questions or thoughts for me, I can be reached at Matthew@habitatfresno.org
Forever in Community,
Matthew Grundy
Chief Executive Officer
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