Meet Chris Untiet | Habitat for Humanity LA Faith Relations Director

We had the good fortune of connecting with Chris Untiet and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Chris, what habits do you feel helped you succeed?
Relationship Building, follow up, and innovation.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
-AmeriCorps Volunteer with Habitat for Humanity of Greater Los Angeles, 2009-2011 -Faith Relations Director, Habitat for Humanity of Greater Los Angeles, 2011- present

It has been wonderful to bring all diverse faith backgrounds together around our mission of “seeking to put God’s love into action, Habitat for Humanity LA brings people together to build homes, communities and hope.”

In times of such division, I’ve been grateful for the chance to bring so many inspiring faith leaders together. They have really helped move Habitat’s mission forward here in Los Angeles through prayer, volunteering, raising funds, promoting our programs, and advocating for Habitat’s mission.

Community development work with communities of faith has never been easy. It requires a lot of time (nights and weekends), relationship building, and passion for the cause you are supporting.

You learn to be persistent and keep following up. Seeds you plant one year might not come to pass for months or years down the road, but it is always worth it when you hand over the keys to family.

Habitat’s mission truly does make a generational impact. I feel incredibly blessed to help move the mission forward. It’s amazing to see so many hardworking, low income families achieve their dreams of affordable homeownership here in Los Angeles.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
– Habitat tour of many of the 1400+ homes that have been completed throughout Los Angeles since 1990, especially the homes that Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter helped to build during their Habitat work projects in 1995 and 2007.

– I’d be sure to introduce them to many of our Habitat families and their inspiring stories. A single mom in Downey whose daughter was the 1st in her family to graduate college this year. A family in Lawndale who adopted 3 children and was able to raise them in a Habitat home. A mom and her four sons in Culver City, the youngest of which has cerebral palsy, but now has his own room in a Habitat home. A veteran in Compton who is turning 90 this year, who in March had a youth group, Muslims and Jews Inspiring Change (MAJIC), come out to help preserve his home. And a family in Willowbrook who moved into their Habitat home during the holidays after living in a mobile home for decades.

– In N Out, multiple beach trips, Dodgers game, and Disneyland would also be a must.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My Habitat for Humanity co-workers both here in Los Angeles and around the country have played a huge role in the successes that I have had. They have always been there to help encourage me, offer guidance and feedback, and push me to help serve more families through our mission.

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