For more than 30 years, I’ve served as a board member and volunteer for HomeAid OCLA. I’ve stayed involved for many reasons—professional, personal, and everything in between—but recently something happened that made the mission hit home in a way I never expected. Earlier this year, I was diagnosed with a serious health issue. Thankfully, we caught it early and after weeks of uncertainty, surgery and too many battles with insurance, I’m on the other side of it now—healthy, healing, and on the road to recovery. Six days in the hospital made me realize how much I missed the little things that make home, home. I missed Zelda curled up at my feet, the smell of my husband's coffee brewing in the morning, a warm and cozy bed, the comfort of my favorite spot on the couch, and looking out into our quiet, serene backyard. Just being home, with my family and friends there by my side, felt like the greatest gift. I kept thinking about the people who don’t have that—how hard it must be to face life’s toughest moments without the security and comfort of a home. Until you need it most - it's easy to take for granted. What I realized, more clearly than ever before, home is my foundation for everything— and especially essential for healing, hope, and peace of mind. It's why HomeAid’s work matters so much to me.
Since 1989, HomeAid has been building more than just shelters; we build the spaces where people can begin again. Our unique approach, powered by the generosity of builders, trade partners, and volunteers, means every dollar goes further—helping more of our neighbors find safe, stable housing in Orange, Los Angeles, and Ventura Counties. This year, we’re aiming to raise $100,000 on Help Them Home Giving Day. I’m asking you to join me—not just as a donor, but as someone who knows, firsthand, what it means to have a place to land when life gets turned upside down. Every gift, no matter the size, helps open the door for someone else.
Home means everything. Let’s help make it possible for everyone in our community. Please join me by participating in my Help Them Home Giving Day campaign benefitting HomeAid OCLA. It's a one day fundraiser ending on midnight on Wednesday April 22, 2026. Thanks so much Sonia.
In 1989, leaders in the building industry of Southern California engaged in a revolutionary project: the renovation of an old farmhouse in Irvine into affordable housing for at-risk families. This one-off project opened the door to an innovative new idea: a charitable branch of the building industry that donates their expertise, labor, and materials towards construction to reduce the overall cost of the project. HomeAid's story of helping people facing housing insecurity began.
What makes HomeAid OCLA special is how our community comes together to make our work possible. Our Builder Captains and their partners generously donate materials, expertise, time and labor toward our projects. Sometimes HomeAid OCLA owns the building; other times, we serve as the bridge between a nonprofit operator and the builder who steps up to bring the project to life. Each project we build brings us one step closer to closing the housing insecurity gap.