Featured News:
- Sign up to volunteer with Habitat for Humanity
- Donate to the ReStore, a building materials recycling and retail center in Goleta
- Attend a volunteer orientation on May 19th at the Habitat office
- Leonard Unander Associates, Inc. deconstructs Montecito home and donates reusable material to the ReStore
Habitat for Humanity will begin construction on 12 new affordable condominiums in the fall of 2012. Located at 822 and 824 East Canon Perdido Street, the development will include: two 3-bedroom homes, eight 2-bedroom homes, and two 1-bedroom homes (one of which will be completely accessible to disabled persons).
If you attended a meeting in April and received an applicaion the completed applications are due to the Habitat office by May 31st, 2012. Applications can be returned by:
Mail: Habitat for Humanity, P.O. Box 176, Goleta, CA 93116
In person: Habitat for Humanity, 6725 Hollister Avenue, Goleta, CA 93117
Fax: 805-692-8406
Local volunteer David Chapman spent a week in Haiti this past November. We have uploaded a number of David's photos and stories to Habitat's blog. Please be sure to take a look. David was part of the Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Work Project which is building 500 homes in Leogane, Haiti. Thanks to volunteers like David, Habitat for Humanity is working to move more families into safe, decent, and permanent housing in Haiti.
On December 10th Habitat completed a home repair for an elderly widowed homeowner. A group of 30 volunteers, celebrating a 30th birthday, spent the day clearing brush for fire safety, removing a broken fence that surrounds the property, and landscaping the front and back of the house.
“My home is in a wildfire-risk area, so that is my first concern,” writes homeowner Ann, “removing flammable burst and woodpiles, trimming dry grass and weeds along the edges, and other outdoor tasks that show pride of ownership. In 50 years, our Lane has changed from semi-rural to semi-suburban, and our property is now the worst looking of all.”
After a full day's work, Ann's property is cleared of brush and in much better condition. Habitat loves partnering with volunteers looking to give back to the community, and Nathan's birthday party was a wonderful example of that.
A Brush with Kindness is a program that helps low-income homeowners struggling to restore and maintain a safe and decent place to live. The program was created with the goal to help homeowners reclaim the pride and dignity of homeownership by offering affordable means of exterior home improvements and maintain the value of the home. Do you or a neighbor need A Brush with Kindness? Please fill out our eligibility checklist and return to ABWK@sbhabitat.org or Habitat for Humanity of SSBC, PO Box 176, Goleta, CA 93116.
In December 2010 Raquel and her young daughter were given keys to their new Habitat for Humanity home in Santa Barbara. For Habitat partner families the process of moving into their home is a journey, including up to 250 "sweat equity" hours helping to build their homes and attending the 16-month family partnership curriculum. The result is a home that the families can feel proud of, and a hand-up to a safe, sound and clean enviornment where they can grow.
Thoughout construction of the four Habitat homes, Raquel and her daughter lived at St. Vincent's, a transitional housing facility for single mothers and their children. The stability of owning their own home has allowed the two to thrive and just 9 months after moving in, Raquel is about to begin a new chapter and a dream she thought was out of reach. Raquel will begin studying for a masters degree in Psychology later this month. With the consistency and security that comes with owning her own home Raquel is able to devote more attention to her daughter and focus on their futures.
A world where everyone has a decent place to live. Habitat for Humanity of Southern Santa Barbara seeks to unite people and communities in a spirit of true partnership by building houses with families in need regardless of race, nationality or religion.
