Calling All Volunteers

We need your help! It's summertime and you know what that means...long and sunny days. What better way to spend your summer than by volunteering with Habitat for Humanity. Volunteers are crucial to our programs and we wouldn't be able to operate our ReStore in Goleta without volunteers.

Why volunteer at the Habitat ReStore: 

1. The ReStore has kept over 300 tons of building materials from our local landfills. ie: you're being GREEN
2. The ReStore provides an affordable way for families to make improvements to their homes.
3. All proceeds from the ReStore go directly back to Habitat and help us build low-income housing for families in need.

It really is easy to sign-up to volunteer online: sign up to volunteer. The program will walk you though our online volunteer orientation or you can attend one in person next Saturday, July 9th at 11am here at the ReStore.  

Volunteer Rachel, a college student home for the summer!

What's New in the ReStore?

As we recently shared, the Habitat ReStore has expanded by 5,000 square feet into the adjacent warehouse. The project is almost complete and the area is already packed with new items and an amazing display of inventory. Thanks to groups of volunteers from Community Solutions, Inc. and Vandenberg Air Force Base, the new area is well organized and recently painted. 

We hope you will join Habitat for Humanity on Saturday, July 9th for the ReStore's expansion kick-off celebration and BBQ. We will be offering 10% off your total purchase all day as well as a BBQ lunch from 12-2pm. See you on the 9th!

The Habitat ReStore is located at 6725 Hollister Avenue in Goleta.

President Carter: Decent Housing is a Basic Human Right

In yesterday's issue of the Gardian, Former President Jimmy Carter published a piece why decent housing is a basic human right and how each of us are morally obligated to act with a sense of urgency to house those in our communities who do not have a roof over their head.

"In order to create true, sweeping changes in providing decent housing, we must begin to talk about this human necessity as a basic human right. This is not something that families around the world can only wish to have, not something that only the luckiest can hope to realize, but something that everyone should have an opportunity to achieve.

When we understand the magnitude of housing needs and their different forms in communities worldwide, we will recognize that as more fortunate people we are morally obligated to act. Once we view the issue of housing in these appropriately urgent terms, we will begin to act in concert more effectively."

Read the full article: Decent Housing is Not Just a Wish, it is a Human Right

Bringing hope and dignity, in the form of decent housing, to the families we serve is part of Habitat for Humanity of Southern Santa Barbara County's mission and it is wonderful to see President Carter echoing these sentiments.


Related post: The Need for Affordable Housing in Santa Barbara

Volunteer Spotlight on Habitat Interns Jessica and Brandon

We at Humanity of Southern Santa Barbara County love to celebrate our volunteers and interns. They make our mission possible. This month we are proud to spotlight our two spring interns from UCSB; Brandon Fox and Jessica Buenaventura. Jessica and Brandon were valuable members of the Habitat family and helped with a number of projects and projects. They both went above and beyond their duties and were always willing to help whenever and wherever needed. Countless times they stayed late, answered phones, completed necessary errands, and always did their assigned tasks with a smile on their face. Both volunteered in the Habitat booth during the Santa Barbara Earth Day Festival and helped as servers during Habitat's May fundraiser event.

Please join us in thanking Brandon and Jessica for their commitment and dedication to Habitat for Humanity.

Jessica and Brandon along with Westmont volunteers at our May fundraiser.

Brandon with the "A Brush with Kindness" poster he created.

Jessica with the ReStore poster she designed

If you are interested in volunteering with Habitat for Humanity in Santa Barbara please view our volunteer calendar and sign-up to volunteer online. Every month we hold volunteer orientations which are a great way to learn more about Habitat and the various ways you can be involved. 

Our next orientation will be held: 

Saturday, July 9th @11 a.m. at the Habitat ReStore: 6725 Hollister Avenue in Goleta

Mark your calendar for July 9th

The Habitat for Humanity ReStore is expanding in both size and open hours and we hope you will join us on July 9th for the official grand opening. 

Building Homes - Building Hope

Habitat for Humanity of Southern Santa Barbara County is proud to share two new perspectives for the 12 new affordable homes we will build on Canon Perdido Street. We couldn't be happier with these architectural designs from DMA Architecture.

On June 2nd the Santa Barbara Planning Commission heard our initial conceptual plans for the 12 homes that habitat will build on Canon Perdido Street. The project was received very favorably, adn they have agreed to support our bonus density and parking reductions. The project will next be presented to the Santa Barbara Architectural Board of Review at the end of June for a concept review. The ABR committee's comments will be incorporated into our design guidelines.  

A perspective from the back common area.

A street view from Canon Perdido.

Habitat's Ultimate Goal

The ultimate goal of Habitat for Humanity is to eliminate poverty housing and homelessness from the face of the earth by building adequate and basic housing. Furthermore, all of our words and actions are for the ultimate purpose of putting shelter on the hearts and minds of people in such a powerful waythat poverty housing and homelessness become socially, politically and religiously unacceptable in our nations and world.

 --Statement of Habitat for Humanity’s “Ultimate Goal”

Here in Santa Barbara we are striving to accomplish this this goal by building safe, decent and affordable homes for local families in-need.

Raising a wall at Habitat for Humanity's first major home project in Santa Barbara.

Blueprints & Blue Jeans Benefit for the Canon Perdido Affordable Homes Project

Habitat for Humanity of Southern Santa Barbara County recently hosted a Blueprints and Blue Jeans benefit where we unveiled the blueprints to the Canon Perdido Affordable Homes Project. It was a wonderful event, generously underwritten by Mentor Worldwide, LLC. 

Volunteer servers from Westmont College and UCSB.

Special thanks for Tammy Kronen Catering

 

 

 

 

The event was catered by Tammy Kronen Catering and guests enjoyed wonderful bluegrass from musicians David West, Blaine Sprouse, and Peter Feldmann. It was a wonderful event and Habitat is enormously thankful to Mentor Worldwide for sponsoring the event.

Canon Perdido Project Receives Support of Santa Barbara Planning Commission

In case you missed today's Noozhawk article, the Santa Barbara Planning Commission yesterday voiced support for the 12 new homes that Habitat for Humanity of Southern Santa Barbara County plans to build on Canon Perdido Street. This was just an initial meeting and we're thrilled to have their support for this project which we are confident will successfully transform the lives of 12 hardworking and deserving low-income families in Santa Barbara. 

Habitat for Humanity Condo Project Receives Support of Santa Barbara Planning Commission

"[Commissioner John] Jostes said the project fit in “quite well” into the neighborhood and didn’t have issues with the height. “There’s clear support for this project because it zeroes in and fills a need,” Jostes said. “You’ve got a reputation as you come to the table here, and I think we’re all looking forward to seeing you folks involved in making it happen....'"

Read the full article:
Habitat for Humanity Condo Project Receives Support of Santa Barbara Planning Commission - Noozhawk.com

Related post: Blueprints to 12 new sustainable homes for families in need