Habitat for Humanity of Southern Santa Barbara County was featured on local TV station KCOY last night in advance of the January 12th Planning Commission hearing for the 12 new low-income homes planned for Canon Perdido Street.
'Habitat' Planning 12 Low-Income Homes In Santa Barbara
SANTA BARBARA – Habitat For Humanity is planning its third and largest housing plan to date, which will create new affordable homes for 12 low-income families.The nearly half acre of land on the eastside of Santa Barbara is the proposed spot for a dozen new townhomes.
The homes will be three stories high and contractors built story poles to let nearby residents know how tall it is compared to neighboring buildings. It's a step Habitat For Humanity is taking to make home ownership for low-income families possible.
"We see many families pay over 50 percent of their income on rent," said Joyce McCullough, Habitat For Humanity Executive Director. "We had one of our families living in a small two bedroom apartment with another family because they couldn't afford the high cost of rent in Santa Barbara."
The housing project is still in the approval process with the City of Santa Barbara. It will go to the Planning Commission on Thursday for the approval to move forward. If all goes as planned, they will break ground at the end of the year.
"It's going to be sort of a little village here and I think it will be a really pleasant place four our families to live," said McCullough.
There is a small open space on the property and Habitat For Humanity will spruce up the yard and add a play area for the kids who will live there.
The low-income housing application process will start in April. A family of four with an annual income of $45,000 to $55,000 a year can qualify. There are already 150 families interested in applying for the new units.
The land for the project cost $975,000. Habitat For Humanity was able to secure Redevelopment Agency Funds for the purchase in 2010.
For more information, click here: http://www.sbhabitat.org/index.php
