Habitat for Humanity in the Wall Street Journal

Habitat for Humanity was recently highlighted in the Wall Street Journal for having a very low foreclosure rate. At a time when foreclosures are common place, this is another example of how Habitat is truly helping families maintain an affordable place to live. The article quotes a recent study that found the Dallas Habitat affiliate had a less than 2% foreclosure rate. 

Although the study only focused on Dallas, nationwide Habitat affiliates have had a very low foreclosure rate - including our affiliate here in Santa Barbara County. We are proud to say that we have had no foreclosures to date. This can be attributed to a number of factors: 

1. Habitat for Humanity's partner families are required to but in 250 sweat equity hours into the construction of their homes. Partner families have invested more than just their money into the homes.   
2. Habitat provides a Family Partnership Curriculum to prepare each family for the responsibilities of being a homeowner. The goal of the 16-month program is to give families the tools to become successful homeowners, and includes topics such as insurance, mortgages, resale restrictions, insurance, budgeting, credit, the affordability covenant, home maintenance, and how to run a homeowner’s association. All of the topics are taught by professionals in the field and each family has a dedicated mentor to help them through the process.
3. Habitat maintains a relationship with the partner families after the keys are handed over. We want each and every family to succeed and consider our partner families to be a part of the Habitat family. 

Be sure to read the full Wall Street Journal article: For Habitat for Humanity, Foreclosures Small Issue

The Need for Affordable Housing in Santa Barbara

It is generally accepted that housing costs should be no more than 30% of a household's total income. However in Santa Barbara, the average rent is well over that for a low-income family. The high price of housing in Santa Barbara means that hundreds of low-income, hard-working families live in overcrowded apartments or converted garages, many of which do not meet minimum health and safety standards. Habitat for Humanity of Southern Santa Barbara is committed to building affordable and decent housing for very low income families in our community. With the completion of our second affordable housing complex in 2010, we have provided nearly 30 people with owner-occupied housing.     Habitat for Humanity does not build houses for families; rather, we build alongside those who demonstrate the need and the willingness to partner with us. Families meet the following criteria: Currently reside in deteriorated, unsafe or overcrowded conditions; Total family income between 40% and 60% of area median income. Ability to make monthly mortgage payments designed to fit within 35% of the family's income; and, Commit to investing 500 hours of their own "sweat equity" into the houses. The need for affordable housing extends beyond this and over the course of the next few months we will be highlighting the desperate need for affordable housing in Santa Barbara. Stay tuned for more. Link: read Habitat's full March newsletter.

Habitat for Humanity's Response to the earthquake & tsunami in Japan

The reports out of Japan are devastating. Our hearts continue to break for the people of Japan. The 9.0 earthquake, tsunami, and now nuclear reactor uncertainties have killed thousands, destroyed entire communities, and displaced hundreds of thousands of people. Habitat for Humanity International is assessing the damage and working alongside the Japanese government to determine how we can help. In the short-term, Habitat's immediate response includes mobilizing volunteers in Japan to work with the local clean-up and relief efforts. We will keep you updated on Habitat for Humanity's on-going efforts in Japan.  

Habitat for Humanity Southern Santa Barbara is accepting donations specifically for the relief efforts in Japan. If you would like to make a donation to serve families affected by this disaster, please donate and include "Japan" in the designation field.   

Below is an update sent out from Habitat for Humanity International this morning:

Reuters/Kim Hyung-hoon, courtesy Trust.org – AlertNet.

Habitat for Humanity Japan is planning to mobilize people living in Japan to help with clean-up operations after last week’s earthquake and tsunami even though it may be several weeks before work can begin. HFH Japan has also announced a fund raising appeal on its web site. In addition donations are being accepted on www.habitat.org.

Habitat for Humanity International staff are in Japan assisting local Habitat staff to liaise with would-be partners and discussing with government authorities how to best support the relief effort in the still unfolding tragedy.

Meanwhile a Japan volunteer team building with Habitat in southern India is tugging heartstrings. Nineteen Japanese university students arrived in Bangalore city just an hour before the earthquake hit Japan. The volunteers are studying in Osaka, Kyoto and Kobe which are not affected but many are worried for their families living in Sendai and Tokyo. Their volunteerism moved Habitat home partner J.Sreedhar in Kothanur village. “They are here to help me with foundation work when people in their own country are homeless. What more can I ask?” Sreedhar was quoted as saying in a Times of India article. Read more.

We will continue to keep you updated on Habitat for Humanity International's relief efforts in Japan.

Volunteer Spotlight on Bob Roe and Susan Sheller

We at Humanity of Southern Santa Barbara County love to celebrate our volunteers. They make our mission possible. This month we are proud to spotlight the volunteer work of Bob Roe and Susan Sheller. Bob and Suzi volunteer every Thursday in the Habitat ReStore and just marked 100 volunteer hours each.They have become a valuable part of the ReStore team and help display, sort, and merchandise new donated material. Thanks to Bob & Suzi the ReStore's hardware now has a complete makeover. Please join us in thanking Bob and Suzi for their dedication and commitment to Habitat for Humanity and the ReStore

We are so thankful for Bob and Suzi's dedication to the ReStore and to Habitat for Humanity's mission of providing affordable housing in Santa Barbara. 

Bob & Suzi with part of the ReStore's "Thursday crew"

Bob & Suzi receiving their "100 hours volunteered" certificate!

If you would like to volunteer in the Habitat for Humanity ReStore, please view our online calendar to sign up. We also hold monthly volunteer orientations, the next is scheduled for March 19th. Click here for more information on volunteer opportunities.

A Brush with Kindness: Completed Driveway

The new driveway at Habitat for Humanity of Southern Santa Barbara County's first A Brush with Kindness home repair is now complete! Thanks to a donation of driveway pavers from the Deconstruction and ReUse Network, Suzanna and her sister Tina now have a beautiful - and functional - new driveway!

Who doesn't love before and after pictures? They really are some of the best way to visually see the impact that a few days of service really make. This driveway was completed thanks to some very hardworking volunteers. It's not easy to lay pavers but somehow they made it look like a breeze.

Driveway before and after A Brush with Kindness.

Volunteers making it look easy.

A Brush with Kindness is a program that assists low-income homeowners in repairing their homes so they can continue to live in a safe, decent home. The program was created to fill a need among families trying to fix up their deteriorating homes. We at Habitat for Humanity Santa Barbara are committed to walking alongside struggling families to offer them a hand up and hope for a brighter future. 

Related posts: Volunteer photos from A Brush with Kindness

Why I volunteer with Habitat for Humanity: Guest blogger

Posted by guest blogger and Habitat for Humanity ReStore volunteer, Candace Cook:

Upon moving to Santa Barbara about 2 years ago, I researched opportunities for community involvement through volunteering and selected the Southern Santa Barbara Habitat for Humanity.  Our ReStore brings into focus total community impact in conjunction with the all important human touch. I appreciate that the funds generated by our home improvement sales directly supports our affordable housing projects, giving further value to our local community and to the new home owners.  The families experience security, stability and pride and in turn, they participate fully in their communities, fostering opportunities for others in ways that reach beyond their involvement with HFH.  Children thrive in stable and nurturing environments, becoming the productive citizens of tomorrow and hopefully with positive impact on the communities they live and work within. 

Other important components to consider when volunteering at the ReStore concern the Reduce/Reuse/Recycle/Repurpose philosophy. Less waste in our environment is involved in daily living and the Restore has diverted tons of waste from local landfills.  In any economy, but especially today, our affordable home improvement products allow for property upgrades and enhancements or replacement of home, office and farm items.  Investment and tenant properties can also be affordable maintained with owners purchasing ReStore's diverse and ever changing inventory.  

Whether rebuilding a chicken coop or home from the recent fires, the ReStore can help make these endeavors easier and affordable for our neighbors and friends.  When you donate, purchase or volunteer the end result is the human touch, making life better for all of us.  

Candace celebrating with staff and other ReStore volunteers.

Candace receiving her 300 volunteer hours pin

Habitat for Humanity of Santa Barbara is looking for volunteers and, like Candace, you don't have to be on a build site to help build affordable homes. Click here for more information on volunteer opportunities.

Habitat for Humanity 'There's no Planet B' t-shirts

Building on the theme of reduce, reuse, recycle, Habitat for Humanity Santa Barbara County designed new t-shirts to emphasize the environmental benefits of shopping at, donating to, and supporting the ReStore. They look fantastic and we hope our volunteers and supporters will wear their ReStore shirts with pride! 

Why Reduce, Reuse, ReStore? Because there is no Planet B!

Through the selling of donated construction and home related items, the ReStore works to:

1. Reduce the amount of usable materials in our local landfills.

2. Provide quality building materials that can be reused by the public at discounted prices.

3. Provide materials for affordable homes that Habitat for Humanity builds in Santa Barbara.

"There's no Planet B" shirts can be purchased for $10 each. They come in sizes S - 2XL as well as woman's fitted sizes s-xl. All proceeds go directly to Habitat.  Call 805-692-2226 to reserve your ReStore shirt today.

A big thank you goes to graphic design and t-shirt printer Alex Leung at Graphic Ink who donated his time and talents to design this shirt.

Question of the day: Where will you wear your Habitat Restore t-shirt?

More photos from A Brush with Kindness

On Saturday March 5th Habitat for Humanity of Southern Santa Barbara County welcomed another crew of volunteers to help at our A Brush with Kindness home repair project in Carpinteria. A group of 20 students from Santa Barbara City College joined us for the day and all-in-all we had a total of 36 volunteers working hard all day long. St. Joseph's Catholic Church provided a delicious lunch for the 36 volunteers.

Santa Barbara City College volunteers with the homeowners.

Santa Barbara City College volunteers painting the window frames.

Group shot of the volunteers assigned to paving the driveway.

Volunteers working on the back of the house.

Lunch courtesy of St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Carpinteria.

Related post: Introducing A Brush with Kindness

Photos from A Brush with Kindness home repair

Last Saturday Habitat for Humanity of Southern Santa Barbara welcomed 27 volunteers to our first A Brush with Kindness home repair. The volunteers generously gave their weekend to help Suzanna and Tina with necessary home repairs. A huge amount was accomplished in just one day. The driveway was prepared for repaving and in doing so removed two dumpster loads of soil. All of the exterior walls and rafters were power washed and scraped and the landscaping received a major face-lift.

We were deeply impressed by the volunteers enthusiasm, strength, and dedication to helping the community. Suzanna and Tina were touched by the support of so many. This was only day one of the home repair and the amount of work that was completed is truly amazing. We look forward to showing you the before and after photos!

Removing the old driveway and 2 dumpsters worth of dirt.

Washing and preparing the walls for a new coat of paint.

The Burger Bus provided lunch for all the volunteers!

Group shot after a hard day's work.

Help Habitat Save Needed Funding for Affordable Homes

We need your help. The California Legislature will decide this week about the elimination of redevelopment agencies (RDAs).  As a supporter and advocate of Habitat for Humanity, you know the crucial and fundamental need for safe and affordable housing.  Today we ask that you join Habitat for Humanity in voicing support for local redevelopment agencies.  

60% of Habitat of Southern Santa Barbara County's affordable homes were built in partnership with the Santa Barbara redevelopment agency.  Our third major affordable home building project--an additional 12 homes--will be built on land purchased with RDA funds.  Their proposed elimination will have a crippling impact on our ability to access land and critical funding for future affordable housing developments. We are able to leverage these public dollars with YOUR donations of money, time and materials to create sorely-needed affordable housing not only on the South Coast, but throughout California.

Habitat builds more than just homes, we also build home ownership. Our partner families pay property taxes, engage in the community, and do not rely on the continued investment of state dollars. Redevelopment agencies are critical partners that enable Habitat to deliver more than just a home to working families in Santa Barbara. There must remain a mechanism for funding that enables the development of affordable housing in California. If you support this position, please help save affordable housing funding in the state budget.

                       

Today we ask you to be an advocate for Habitat for Humanity of Southern Santa Barbara County and the working families who do not have a voice in the budget deliberations. You can demonstrate your commitment to them and our mission by taking one simple step today!                        

                          

Please help Habitat by urging Governor Brown and the California Legislature to protect funds for affordable housing. It only takes a minute to sign Habitat for Humanity's state-wide petition and send an email to Governor Brown today!