Finding Purpose: How Habitat for Humanity Helped Art Branch Build a New Life


Growing up in Bakersfield, CA, Art Branch often found himself surrounded by the wrong influences. As a teenager and young adult, 
one wrong turn often led to another, pulling him deeper into a cycle of reckless behavior and drug addiction. Before long, those choices started coming with serious consequences.


"I was in and out of jail," Art recalled timidly. "I just kept making poor choices."


Deep down, Art knew he wanted something different. He knew he couldn't continue living the life he had created for himself. In 1992, at 
just 19 years old, he made his first real attempt at turning things around. After his parents divorced, his mother had relocated to Marysville, CA, and Art hoped that joining her would offer a fresh start.

CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL STORY ON OUR WEBSITE





Purpose Place Moves into Phase III

Demolition began this month to clear the way for Purpose Place’s housing expansion. This exciting milestone marks the official launch of Phase III development, which will bring 18 new studio units and a small courtyard to the community.


Looking ahead, Phase II is scheduled to break ground in March of 2027. Stay tuned for more updates as we progress!

2027-2032 Strategic Plan

Community Survey

Habitat for Humanity Yuba/Sutter is developing its 2027-2032 Strategic Plan, and we want to hear from you. Your feedback will help us better understand community needs, improve our programs and services, strengthen partnerships, and expand our impact throughout Yuba, Sutter, Glenn, and Colusa Counties.

Whether you have worked with us, partnered with us, volunteered, donated, or simply live in our community, your perspective is valuable.

All responses are confidential and will be used for strategic planning purposes only.

Click here to access the survey

Support the Mission 
of Affordable Housing

Providing sustainable housing for the Yuba-Sutter community is essential to our mission of ending homelessness—and projects like our Merriment Village are prime examples of that work. 


Your support helps provide safe, stable housing for families and individuals facing hardship. Every donation expands our ability to provide homes and respond to the growing need for stability and affordability across Yuba, Sutter, Glenn, and Colusa counties.


When you give, you’re doing more than helping people find a home—you’re building a stronger, more resilient community, one family and one neighborhood at a time.

Life Advancement Center
is Near Completion

The transformation of the Life Advancement Center is nearing its final milestone, bringing us one step closer to the vibrant, welcoming space our community deserves. 

With the finish line in sight, our dedicated construction crew is focused on the aesthetic and functional details that will bring the center to life. Work is actively underway on the interior walls, landscaping, and the renovation of the kitchen and restroom facilities.

Soon, the team will transition to exterior painting and prepping for new signage. We anticipate completion of the entire renovation within the month. Stay tuned for more details about the grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony!

$5,000 Grant Awarded To

Life Advancement Center

We were delighted to host representatives from Tri Counties Bank for a tour of our Life Advancement Center. The visit provided a wonderful opportunity to share our program services, showcase ongoing facility renovations, and discuss project timelines with a few of our Habitat team members.

Thanks to their partnership, the Life Advancement Center received a $5,000 donation that will go toward the purchase of essential room furnishings and beds.

We are deeply grateful to Tri Counties Bank for investing in our mission and uplifting the Sutter-Yuba community.

Spaces of Hope is a formal naming and sponsorship campaign for the Life Advancement Center. This exciting opportunity invites businesses, foundations, community organizations, families, and individuals to financially support specific rooms, program areas, and more within this newly renovated facility.

Major Naming Opportunities Include:

• Emergency Shelter Rooms
• Family Rooms
• Recuperative Care Rooms
• Short-Term Post-Hospitalization Rooms
• ADA-Accessible Rooms
• Counseling and Group Rooms
• Community Gathering Areas
• And more!

In recognition of your contribution as a sponsor, you will receive acknowledgment depending on the size and type of sponsor contribution. Recognition may include:


• A professionally designed plaque assigned to the sponsored space acknowledging the donor's name, business, and/or approved dedication
• Recognition on a Central Donor Wall
• Recognition on Habitat for Humanity Yuba/Sutter's Website
• Recognition through Habitat for Humanity Yuba/Sutter's Social Media and Newsletter
• Inclusion in Life Advancement Center Tours or Printed Materials
• A Photograph of the completed Sponsored Space
• Annual Impact Updates for Major Sponsor

For more information and to submit your interest in sponsorship, visit 
this link: Spaces of Hope: Life Advancement Center Sponsorship Campaign


Family Services Spotlight:

USDA Home Repair & Homeownership Assistance

Did you know that Habitat for Humanity Yuba/Sutter's Family Services Department is a USDA Rural Development packaging partner? Our team helps eligible families navigate the application process for USDA programs by providing guidance, reviewing documentation for completeness, and packaging applications before they are submitted to USDA for final review and approval.


USDA Section 504 Home Repair Program

The USDA Section 504 Home Repair Program is designed to help very-low-income homeowners make critical repairs that improve the safety, accessibility, and livability of their homes.

Eligible homeowners may qualify for:


• Low-interest loans to repair, improve, or modernize their homes and remove health and safety hazards
• Grants of up to $10,000 for eligible homeowners age 62 or older who are unable to repay a loan. Grant funds may be used to remove health and safety hazards or make a home more accessible for a household member with a disability
  

USDA Section 502 Homeownership Program

For families dreaming of homeownership, the USDA Section 502 Direct Loan Program may provide an affordable path to purchasing a home in eligible rural communities. Habitat's Family Services team can help determine whether the program may be a good fit and assist applicants through the packaging process before submission to USDA.


We're Here to Help! If you're interested in either the USDA Section 504 Home Repair Program or the USDA Section 502 Homeownership Program, we encourage you to begin with USDA's online preliminary eligibility tools. These assessments can help determine whether you may qualify before completing a full application.

Income and program assessment: Click here to check see if you are eligible, select “Single Family Housing Direct”


Property eligibility: Property Eligibility-Select Single Family Housing Direct

Current California program information: USDA Grant and Loan information

If the preliminary assessment indicates you may be eligible, our Family Services team can:


• Explain the application process
• Help identify the documents you'll need
• Review your application package for completeness
• Package your application for USDA review


Please note that the online assessment is only a preliminary screening and is not a funding approval or guarantee of eligibility. Final eligibility and funding decisions are made by USDA Rural Development.


To learn more or schedule an appointment with our Family Services team, contact us at 530-742-2727, ext. 2014 or familyservices@yubasutterhabitat.org.

Whether you're looking to preserve the home you already own or achieve your dream of homeownership, Habitat for Humanity Yuba/Sutter is committed to helping families access resources that create safe, affordable, and sustainable housing.

Habitat for Humanity Yuba/Sutter’s car donation program helps support local families! Your donation is one more way that you can support our work in Yuba, Sutter, Glenn and Colusa Counties. We accept all types of vehicles: cars, trucks, boats—running or not. 

If you're interested in donating a vehicle to Cars for Homes, click on the link to donate your vehicle on our website today! 


https://yubasutterhabitat.org/cars-for-homes/

Need Space? Tired of playing Tetris with your closets?  If your "extra" space has become the "junk" space, it’s time to breathe again! Reclaim your home and your square footage with Harmony Village Self Storage!

Storing your items with us not only helps you organize your space but also restores the community by funding the construction of homes for local families in need.

(530) 674-0201

4228 Sawtelle Ave, Yuba City


Shop Online & Support Your Community!


Did you know the Habitat for Humanity Yuba/Sutter ReStore sells on eBay? You can find amazing, brand-new items—everything from electronics and gaming accessories to beauty and health products—and so much more!


Every purchase helps support Habitat for Humanity Yuba/Sutter and our mission to build homes for local families in need.


Click the link below to start shopping! 

Shop eBay

August ReStore Sale

Support Us!

Through our Cars for Homes Program, you can donate your old car, boat, motorcycle, RV, or other vehicle to help build homes 
for local families in need. We accept all vehicles whether they are running or not and towing is completely FREE. Just be sure to mention that your donation is intended for our Yuba/Sutter Habitat location, so we can receive the full 
benefit of your support!

Shopping at our ReStore is one of the simplest ways to support our mission, because every dollar spent in-store goes towards Habitat's mission of building up our community. We're constantly getting new items in each day, so be sure to come in or check out our Facebook page to stay updated on new arrivals.