Habitat for Humanity is more than a nonprofit housing ministry—we have a vision of a world where we share one humanity. This is a world we believe in and fight for each day. We are a faith-based organization, but we realize faith alone is not enough. Our faith must be coupled with work and action!

The early seeds of Habitat were planted in the small farming community of Koinonia Farm in Georgia by Clarence Jordan. Amidst racial inequity and unrest, Clarence was considered a radical Christian. Why? Because he chose to pay Blacks and whites equal wages to farm, grow the community, and build homes together. Despite persecution, these early seeds helped grow Habitat for Humanity’s voice and impact as one of the world’s largest builders of affordable homes. This was an early example of equity in housing.

In a 2018 article published by the Atlantic, the original map depicts Fresno’s history of redlining. “White neighborhoods were shaded green, and white buyers in these areas were generally approved for loans. Neighborhoods with large minority populations were shaded red, denied mortgages, and labeled undesirable. Fresno’s west side was red.”

In his report, James Helming noted the “almost exclusive concentration of colored races” in less desirable locations. In affluent neighborhoods, like Fig Garden, “residence lots were sold under careful deed restrictions as to race.”

As an outcome of these and other realities, according to the Urban Institute, Fresno ranked 59th among California’s largest 59 cities in economic and racial inclusion. Recent studies have shown a 20-year delta in life expectancy from those born into southwest Fresno compared to those born into northern parts of the city. A lack of safe and decent housing is one of the underlying reasons for this sad but true reality.