Habitat for Humanity is halting operations in Sonoma County, California due to a lack of funding. The Petaluma Argus Courier reports:
Habitat announced Monday that it was suspending home building after 35 years in the county and plans to lay off about a dozen staff at the end of November, including its CEO, because of severe financial trouble.
“This is just such a tragedy,” said Tim Leach, Habitat’s board president. “But I am adamant this is not a fold up the tent and go home. This is a suspension of our building operation, while we try to regroup and figure out how best to relaunch, how to best serve low-income families in Sonoma County.”
The move to suspend operations comes after a brief but rapid expansion of home construction projects and a staffing increase made possible by significant gifts and donations following the 2017 North Bay wildfires.
But that cash infusion has slowed to a trickle and the county Habitat organization now finds itself unable to cover its expenses, Leach said.
