Do I need to apply or pay to join?

No. The organization has no application and is 100% free. Just attend a general meeting to become a general member.

What does it take to become an Active Member and what do I get?

Volunteer at least 24 hours in a semester (8 hours on a workday, 1 hour fundraising, and 1 hour on research, education, or advocacy). Active Members receive free merch.

What kinds of volunteer work are available?

Options span 12 committees: physical builds (tiny homes, playhouses, Habitat ReStores), soup kitchens at local shelters, beach cleanups, creek restorations, garden builds, housing policy advocacy at city council meetings, data and fundraising research, and more.

Is there a class I can take for credit through the club?

Yes. Education Chairs teach a Housing Crisis DeCal at UC Berkeley (Wurster Hall 314B, Thursdays 6:30–8 PM, class number 21500) that examines why affordable housing is needed and how to address it. The class is open for enrollment and auditing.

Can I join mid-semester?

Yes. Anyone can join at any point in the semester.

Cal Habitat for Humanity

Community Service/Nonprofit·Political Advocacy Groups·Environmental/Sustainability·Education

Cal Habitat for Humanity tackles the Bay Area housing crisis through service, education, and advocacy across 12 committees. Members can volunteer at building sites, soup kitchens, beach cleanups, and creek restorations, or work on housing policy advocacy at Berkeley City Council meetings. There is no application and no cost to join. Attend a general meeting to become a member, or log 24 volunteer hours in a semester to earn Active Member status and free merch.

ApplicationsWe believe in accessibility in volunteering, so our organization has no application and is 100% free

2458

Mailing list subscribers

3704

Total volunteer work hours logged

150+

Total events

Number of committees

Number of officers (Spring 2026)

Hours required for Active Member status per semester (8 workday + 1 fundraising + 1 research/education/advocacy)

Events They Host

Housing Crisis DeCal

A for-credit class at UC Berkeley (Wurster Hall 314B, class number 21500) taught by the Education Chairs every Thursday, 6:30–8:00 PM. Open to enrollment and auditing. Covers affordable housing needs and policy solutions.

Soup Kitchen Volunteering

Volunteer events at institutions providing meals to the homeless population in Berkeley. Partners in Fall 2025 included St. Marks, Dorothy Day House, and First Presbyterian.

Local Volunteer Events

Variety of East Bay volunteer events including beach cleanups, garden builds at Habitat sites, and creek restorations.

Advocacy at Berkeley City Council

Members attend Berkeley City Council meetings to support affordable housing and tenants' rights, monitor local housing policies, and collaborate with tenant organizations.

Habitat Build Days

Building affordable housing with Habitat East Bay, staffing ReStores, and building playhouses. In Fall 2025, members helped build tiny homes in Richmond for homeless and low-income youth and worked on the Sequoia Grove site in Hayward.

Collegiate Challenge

A week-long trip for a group of students to volunteer at a Habitat site.

Member Experiences

Documentary Screening and Discussion

Members gathered to watch and discuss the Oscar-nominated documentary 'Lead Me Home' (2021) about homelessness in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Seattle.

Weekly Committee Meetings

Each of the 12 committees holds regular weekly meetings. See the club calendar for schedule.