More Than a Place to Live: How State Farm® and Habitat for Humanity Help Families Build a Safer Future

Rasheed Merritt

By Rasheed Merritt, Corporate Responsibility leader

I had the privilege recently of joining a massive neighborhood worksite – 24 homes in five days – in southwest Atlanta as part of Habitat for Humanity’s golden anniversary celebrations. Walking onto the site, I was transported back to my first Habitat build over 15 years ago, struck by the same spirit of purpose and hope. Surrounded by the bright red volunteer shirts of State Farm colleagues, it was clear why this partnership endures: neighbors helping neighbors, creating benefits that ripple far beyond the immediate job site. It is a continuing legacy of showing up for people and doing good in the community.

This year marks a remarkable milestone for Habitat for Humanity: 50 years of helping families achieve the dream of homeownership. For many, building a home can feel out of reach, especially as rising costs put homeownership beyond grasp. That’s why Habitat’s work matters, and why partnerships like ours are built to last.
 

A Shared Legacy of Building for Tomorrow

Our partnership with Habitat is a testament to a legacy of community commitment. Together, we focus on building homes that become the foundations helping neighborhoods thrive for generations. State Farm’s support goes beyond financial contributions; it’s also grounded in volunteerism and collaboration. Habitat’s model is a community effort involving affiliate staff, volunteers, future homeowners and partners all working side by side. With more than 19,000 agents in communities across the country, and more than 62,000 employees, State Farm shows up.

Since 1994, State Farm has contributed more than $19 million to Habitat’s affiliates nationwide. This year, we were proud to be honored by Habitat for our partnership during the Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Work Project in southwest Atlanta. Our participation in the project marks over 30 years of collaboration between Habitat and State Farm, and we were recognized as a Carter Circle Mission Builder – an honor shared by Habitat’s most committed partners.

Rasheed Merritt

Building Resilience for the Future

Our partnership extends beyond new construction. Together, State Farm and Habitat for Humanity transform affordable housing from basic shelter into durable, long-term community assets. We are committed to strengthening existing homes through the Habitat Strong program, preparing families and communities for the increasing threats of extreme weather. With over 100 years of helping customers recover from disasters, State Farm understands firsthand the importance of building homes that endure hurricanes, wildfires, tornadoes and other disasters. Disaster prevention is far more cost-effective than disaster recovery. Both organizations share a mission rooted in building stability and strengthening communities. By helping build or improve homes, State Farm supports safer living environments that align with risk reduction, leading to fewer losses and a stronger local housing base over time.

Through State Farm grants, over 450 local Habitat affiliates have been able to build or repair homes to exceed standard building codes, ensuring families have durable, fortified homes. These efforts not only protect lives and livelihoods but also guide homeowners toward insurance discounts available for resilient homes that help our customers lower costs.
 

Looking Ahead

The work we do together is ongoing. Throughout this year, Habitat is marking their 50^th anniversary with several major “50 in 50” efforts. In June, Habitat work will take place outside State Farm’s Bloomington, IL, headquarters as part of the 50 in 50 Whole Home Sponsorship in McLean County, continuing this year’s commemorations. These efforts serve as a reminder that building stronger communities is not a single event but a continuous journey across the country.

At the heart of everything is our shared goal and our commitment as Next Gen Good Neighbors: to help families build homes that are more than just houses – they are places of safety, stability and hope. By working hand in hand, State Farm and Habitat for Humanity are helping ensure that home remains a place where dreams take root and communities grow stronger for the future.