UUCB Habitat for Humanity

We UUs support Habitat for Humanity International’s goal of seeking to eliminate poverty housing and homelessness from the world, and making decent shelter a matter of conscience and action.

We work with Habitat for Humanity East Bay, a local affiliate, to construct decent, affordable housing in Alameda and West Contra Costa counties.

Photo of October 1, 2005 Work Day:
(front row from left) David McFarlane, Holly Zimmerman; (middle row from left) Shari Keefe, Tony Bushman, Jane Ramsey, Joanne Orengo, Jim Gasperini; (back row from left) Sue Magidson, Horst Bansner, Ray Westergard, Michael Sohigian, Teresa Ward

What We’ve Done

We demonstrate our committment with action. Here’s what we’ve done already:

West Oakland, January 2005 Group Workday

On a brisk January morning, 18 UUs gathered at the Habitat East Bay’s Palm Court site. After signing in we quickly found work painting siding, erecting porch posts, and spackling nail holes. Two of our members delivered a sumptuous lunch, which was greatly appreciated by the hungry crew. The 1.5 acre Palm Court site contains 12 single-family homes and is scheduled to be completed in the Fall of 2005.

Photo of January 15, 2005 Work Day (from left to right): Michael Donnelly, Bill Hamilton-Holway, Jayne Donnelly, Barbara Hamilton-Holway, Sidney Williams (back to camera).

West Oakland, October 2005 Group Workday

We returned to Palm Court to put the fiinishing touches on the last homes. Ten UUs got the site ready to pour concrete for the sidewalk, put up fences, and generally got the homes ready for people to move in.

South Dakota, June 2004 Mission Trip

A UUCB team traveled to the Cheyenne River Sioux Indian Reservation to work with the local Habitat for Humanity affiliate to renovate an existing home for a young family. Read about their adventures.

Get Involved!

Volunteer opportunities vary from working at a construction site to joining a committee.
Our current efforts are:

North Richmond Projects

Let’s bring Habitat back to western Contra Costa County. We are working with Habitat East Bay’s Community and Government Relations Richmond Subcommittee to create affordable housing opportunities in the city of Richmond. The subcommittee welcomes anyone who believes Richmond deserves quality affordable housing and wants to help in the planning of these projects.

Group Workdays

Grab your work gloves and join us for a fulfilling day at a Habitat construction site. Check with the UUCB Habitat for Humanity coordinator for the next group workday.

Individual Volunteering

Don’t wait for a group work day – volunteer on your own and have the work attributed to UUCB. Go to the Habitat for Humanity East Bay website and sign up for an individual workday. Designate UUCB as your affiliation on the sign-in sheet on the day you work.