03/25/2026
This is what collaboration looks like - partners coming together to strengthen and sustain housing impact across St. Tammany and Washington Parishes. A strong example of how alignment and shared purpose can build lasting impact for our community. Way to go!
๐๐ฎ๐ฏ๐ถ๐๐ฎ๐ ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐๐๐บ๐ฎ๐ป๐ถ๐๐ ๐๐ป๐ป๐ผ๐๐ป๐ฐ๐ฒ๐ ๐จ๐ป๐ถ๐ณ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐๐ผ ๐ฆ๐๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ป๐ด๐๐ต๐ฒ๐ป ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ฆ๐๐๐๐ฎ๐ถ๐ป ๐๐ผ๐๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐บ๐ฝ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ ๐๐ฐ๐ฟ๐ผ๐๐ ๐ช๐ฒ๐๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ป ๐ฆ๐. ๐ง๐ฎ๐บ๐บ๐ฎ๐ป๐ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ช๐ฎ๐๐ต๐ถ๐ป๐ด๐๐ผ๐ป ๐ฃ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ถ๐๐ต๐ฒ๐
Habitat for Humanity affiliates serving western St. Tammany and Washington Parishes have announced plans to combine operations, creating a unified affiliate designed to strengthen long-term housing impact and ensure sustained service across both parishes.
The planned combination reflects a shared commitment to Habitatโs mission and a thoughtful response to the increasingly complex housing environment. Rising construction costs, insurance pressures, land constraints, and funding challenges have made it essential for nonprofit housing providers to operate with strong infrastructure, regional collaboration, and long-term sustainability in mind.
By aligning under a single organizational structure, the unified affiliate will be better positioned to support renewed and ongoing Habitat activities in Washington Parish while continuing established programs in western St. Tammany Parish. The combination allows the organization to responsibly rebuild capacity where needed, leverage shared expertise, and pursue opportunities that would be difficult for smaller, standalone operations.
โThis step is about stewardshipโof our mission, our resources, and our responsibility to the communities we serve,โ said Terri Gage, President & CEO of Habitat for Humanity St. Tammany West. โThe goal is not rapid expansion, but thoughtful, sustainable impact that can be maintained over time.โ
Leaders emphasized that Habitatโs presence in Washington Parish has long been rooted in community commitment, and this combination provides a pathway to re-establish momentum in a way that is realistic, locally grounded, and aligned with available resources.
โThis combination honors the history of Habitatโs work in Washington Parish while creating a stable foundation for future service,โ said Brenda Williams, consultant and long-time Executive Director of Washington Habitat for Humanity. โIt allows us to move forward with intention and care, ensuring that when activities occur, they are supported and sustainable.โ
The organization is currently welcoming families to connect with its Homeownership Center in Mandeville, while also working to establish a local meeting space in Washington Parish, where meetings will be held by appointment.
๐ช๐ต๐ฎ๐ ๐ง๐ต๐ถ๐ ๐ ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ป๐ ๐๐ผ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฑ
In the months ahead, the organization will focus on:
โข Completing governance and operational alignment
โข Assessing community needs and existing capacity in both parishes
โข Laying the groundwork for future Habitat activities in Washington Parish
โข Maintaining transparency with partners, volunteers, and supporters throughout the transition
Specific program timelines and scope will be determined as planning progresses and resources are secured.
๐๐ผ๐บ๐บ๐๐ป๐ถ๐๐ ๐๐ป๐๐ถ๐๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป: ๐๐ฒ๐น๐ฝ ๐ฆ๐ต๐ฎ๐ฝ๐ฒ ๐ฎ ๐จ๐ป๐ถ๐ณ๐ถ๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐ก๐ฎ๐บ๐ฒ
As part of the combination, the organization will adopt a new unified name that reflects the shared geography, values, and future vision of both parishes. Community members, partners, and supporters are invited to offer input and suggestions.
โWe want a name that feels grounded in place and inclusive of the communities we serve,โ said Terri Gage. โThis is an opportunity for people across both parishes to help shape the identity of the organization moving forward.โ
Information on how to participate in the naming process will be shared in the coming weeks through Habitat communications and partner channels.
Until a new name is finalized, both affiliates will continue operating under their current names.
๐๐ฏ๐ผ๐๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ฏ๐ถ๐๐ฎ๐ ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐๐๐บ๐ฎ๐ป๐ถ๐๐
Habitat for Humanity is a nonprofit organization that brings people together to build, preserve, and improve homes so that everyone has a safe, decent, and affordable place to live. Through homeownership opportunities, critical repairs, and community partnerships, Habitat helps families build strength, stability, and self-reliance.
