Mission, Vision & Values

Equity lies at the heart of our mission. Decades of legalized discrimination in the housing industry has contributed to the racial disparity in housing that still exists today. We are dedicated to providing homeownership opportunities to families for whom it has not been traditionally possible. In the Richmond Metro area, 1 in 7 households pay half or more of their income to their home. Women of color are disproportionately affected by this severe cost-burden and make up a larger share of households living in poverty and receiving government-subsidized housing. Homeownership is a powerful tool in promoting racial equity, building generational wealth and working toward an equitable and just society.

Integrity ensures that we honor our commitments and act with dignity, fairness, honesty and respect every day. We strive to construct our homes to the highest quality standards to ensure our homeowners have a safe, stable and secure place to call their own for years to come.

Partnership is a value that defines everything we do at Richmond Habitat. We are not the heroes of our story. Our partner families, volunteers, donors, faith partners, ReStore customers, nonprofit partners and local governments are the true heroes. They make it possible to increase access to safe and affordable homeownership opportunities in our communities. We strive to be a reliable, inclusive and engaging partner in all of our endeavors.

Legacy is what we strive to create for the individuals and families we serve – something that can be passed on to future generations. When families start building equity, wealth transfer occurs and long-term roots are established. When we talk about legacy, we also think about the impact we want to make on the landscape of the localities we serve. We aim to revitalize blighted properties, streets and neighborhoods into beautiful, high-quality and affordable homeownership opportunities.

Fun is another important value to our organization. While we know the work we are doing in the community is serious and important, fun is part of what keeps us moving in the right direction and what keeps our partners motivated to work with us. We aren’t afraid to dig in and get our hands dirty! We have fun working as a team on construction sites, hunting for treasures at our ReStores, and enjoying each other’s company at lunchtime and other work events. We strive to create an environment that values, celebrates and fosters opportunities for creativity, humor and fun.