Started in 2016, LA Fleet Week is an annual celebration that brings active duty Navy ships to the Port of Los Angeles. Held over Memorial Day Weekend, LA Fleet Week allows members of the pubic to tour warships and engage with service members. To show their support for the local military and veteran community, a team of Navy and Marine Corps personnel will team up with Habitat for Humanity of Greater Los Angeles to build homes as part of the Habitat for Heroes program.
LA Fleet Week honors the more than 300,000 veterans who live and work in Los Angeles County, the county with the largest veteran community in the country. Recognizing the housing needs of low and moderate-income veterans, Habitat LA started the Habitat for Heroes program in 2011. Habitat for Heroes seeks to assist, engage, educate and serve Veterans, active-duty members, and their families. Since its founding, over 4,000 veterans have volunteered with the program and over 275 have benefited from housing services.
“The annual LA Fleet Week celebration honors and connects the men and women of our United States Sea Services to the Southern California community,” said LA Fleet Week Foundation President Jonathan Williams in a press release. “Habitat LA’s mission to build affordable housing for all, including veterans and their families, makes the volunteer opportunity for our sailors and Marines one of the most popular community relations projects each year.”
Beginning on May 24, 2023, Navy and Marine Corps volunteers will work at the Isabel Villas home development in the Willowbrook neighborhood of Los Angeles. There, Habitat LA is developing eight new single-story homes. Each home features a private yard, attached 2-car garage, drought-tolerant landscape, energy-efficient appliances, and solar systems.
“Habitat LA is honored to be a part of LA Fleet Week each year. Our nations’ servicemembers embody selfless sacrifice for others, and their commitment to community shines through as they work alongside our team during this annual event,” said Habitat LA President and CEO Erin Rank in a press release. “Our Habitat for Heroes program celebrates servicemembers year-round through each of our housing programs. We are proud to honor the leadership and excellence of our local military community.”
Feature Image: U.S. Navy