Habitat for Humanity voices support for AmeriCorps amid concerning actions at national service agency
ATLANTA (April 17, 2025) — Habitat for Humanity today expressed concern about recent federal actions impacting AmeriCorps staffing given how critical the national service agency has been in scaling Habitat’s impact in communities across the United States.
“Habitat AmeriCorps members have helped build homes, revitalize neighborhoods and respond to disasters over the last three decades,” said Jonathan Reckford, CEO of Habitat for Humanity International. “Now, amid a national housing crisis, would be a terrible time to jeopardize the additional capacity these talented, passionate teams bring to local Habitat affiliates partnering with families to bring affordable homes within reach.”
A majority of AmeriCorps employees were placed on administrative leave on Wednesday, following an earlier move to end one of the agency’s programs: the AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Service Corps. While it remains unclear how this will impact Habitat initiatives, we are concerned that a significant permanent reduction in AmeriCorps staff could reduce critical community services, from education and disaster relief to public health support, especially in underserved and rural areas.
These national service programs help accelerate Habitat for Humanity’s ability to advance our mission by placing AmeriCorps members with Habitat organizations across the United States to build and repair homes, expand housing services and engage the community. In 2024 alone, Habitat AmeriCorps hosted 321 members in 34 states and Washington, D.C. They served more than 2,600 individuals, engaged more than 83,000 volunteers and supported 836 housing projects.
AmeriCorps, which connects individuals and organizations to tackle the nation’s most pressing challenges, is a powerful force for civic involvement and youth engagement, providing a pathway for service in support of not only housing and disaster response but also economic opportunity, education, healthy futures, and veterans and military families.
About Habitat for Humanity
Driven by the vision that everyone needs a decent place to live, Habitat for Humanity found its earliest inspirations as a grassroots movement on an interracial community farm in south Georgia. Since its founding in 1976, the Christian housing organization has since grown to become a leading global nonprofit working in local communities across all 50 states in the U.S., Puerto Rico and more than 70 countries. Families and individuals in need of a hand up partner with Habitat for Humanity to build or improve a place they can call home. Habitat homeowners help build their own homes alongside volunteers and pay an affordable mortgage. Through financial support, volunteering or adding a voice to support affordable housing, everyone can help families achieve the strength, stability and self-reliance they need to build better lives for themselves. Through shelter, we empower. To learn more, visit habitat.org.
