Some years are defined by milestones. Others are defined by momentum.
2025 was the kind of year where progress showed up in tangible ways: walls raised, permits approved, families selected, and long-planned projects moved from paper to place. None of it happened all at once, but every step mattered and every step was shared by a community that kept showing up.
At Habitat for Humanity of Orange County, that is what this year looked like in practice.
2025 Events That Moved the Work Forward
Leaders Build and the West Washington Homes
On May 16, community and corporate leaders gathered for Leaders Build, not just to lend their names to the mission, but to do the work.
Hosted on the Behr Paint lot, Leaders Build participants framed the six future homes on West Washington Street in Santa Ana, advancing a project that had been years in the making. When construction permits were later approved, many of those same leaders returned to help raise the very frames they had assembled, carrying the project from preparation into visible progress.
As shared in our most recent construction update, the West Washington homes are now well underway, with all six homeowner families already selected and actively participating in the process. For those families, the work done in May became the foundation of something far more personal.
Andrea Segura, one of the future homeowners, shared what that moment represents for her family:
“Coming from a one-bedroom apartment with two boys, my oldest sleeping in the living room, it’s just going to be great for him to finally have a room. It’s super exciting. We’re very happy to get this opportunity.”
Building on that momentum, Habitat OC will host Leaders Build 2026 on March 5, returning to the West Washington Avenue development in Santa Ana. The day will bring leaders back to the site where this year’s progress took shape, continuing the hands-on work that helps turn planning into homes for local families.
Keys to 100: Investing in the Next 100 Families
In October, Habitat OC hosted the second annual Keys to 100 Gala at the Avenue of the Arts Hotel in Costa Mesa, bringing together community leaders, partners, and supporters committed to expanding affordable homeownership in Orange County.
The evening featured a live performance by Andy Vargas, the voice of Santana, a silent auction filled with one-of-a-kind experiences, and homeowner stories that reflected what homeownership can make possible for families across the county.
By the end of the night, more than $350,000 was raised, exceeding the event’s goal by $100,000. Every dollar raised supports Habitat OC’s effort to help build 100 new homes in the coming years for hardworking families who are ready for the opportunity of affordable homeownership.
The success of Keys to 100 was made possible through the generosity of sponsors, donors, staff, and volunteers whose collective commitment continues to move this work forward.
Impact Across Orange County in 2025
Behind the events and milestones, Habitat OC’s impact reached families throughout Orange County.
At the end of 2025, we can proudly say:
- 1,235 individuals have been served
- 206 families with children have been supported
- 66 single-parent families have moved closer to long-term housing security
- 710 children have been given a place to call home
Home preservation efforts also continued across the county. Working in partnership with seven Orange County cities, Habitat OC completed 50 home preservation projects this year alone. Since 1988, those efforts have resulted in 324 completed projects, serving 770 individuals, including 49 seniors served in 2025.
Habitat OC ReStores in Anaheim, Santa Ana, and the online store remained an essential part of this work. Across all ReStore channels in 2025:
- $2,940,000 in donated goods were received
- 73,482 transactions supported the mission
- 160,025 pounds of usable materials were diverted from local landfills
- $251,246 in net income was reinvested directly into affordable housing
Looking Ahead With Gratitude
This year was built through steady effort, shared responsibility, and a belief that affordable homeownership belongs in Orange County.
To the families who trusted the process, the leaders who showed up, the volunteers who kept coming back, and the supporters who invested in the long view, thank you. Because of this community, the work continues with clarity and purpose.
