500 Hour Club

Here at Habitat for Humanity of Southern Santa Barbara we are fortunate to have many wonderful volunteers who make our mission possible. With such a small staff, we couldn't do what we do without our volunteers. It is because of them that our ReStore remains staffed, our building projects are constructed, and A Brush with Kindness projects are completed. 

We have five current volunteers who have put in over 500 volunteers hours at the Habitat ReStore. Think about it, that is a lot of time! We call this group the "500 Hour Club" and they can be recognized by their stylish ReStore caps. 

Last Saturday we were lucky to indoctrinate Charley into the club. For the past 3 years Charley has been an essential volunteer on Fridays. Please join us in thanking Charley for his commitment to Habitat for Humanity and the ReStore!

4 of the 5 "500 Hour Club" volunteers.

Volunteer Spotlight on Erica!

Two Friday's ago Habitat for Humanity of Southern Santa Barbara County celebrated the one-year volunteer anniversary of Erica Miller. Since July 13, 2011 Erica has been faithfully volunteering in the Habitat ReStore, often as many as four days a week! Erica has become a wonderful part of the ReStore team and can be found wearing her blue apron, greeting customers, and assisting with check-outs most Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

We don't often celebrate volunteer anniversaries, often reserving celebrations for when volunteers reach 50, 100, or even 500 hour markers, but Erica was eager to celebrate the day and we were thrilled to join her. Most days Erica navigates the crosstown bus to get to the ReStore in time for her volunteer shift. 

We continue to be thankful for Erica's dedication to the ReStore and for her friendly and caring demeanor. Please join Habitat staff and fellow ReStore volunteers in thanking Erica for her faithful service!

Erica's celebration included an ice cream cake on a hot July afternoon.

Erica's 100 volunteer hours celebration in February 2012.

Erica helping prepare food at the July 21st volunteer BBQ.

The Status of Affordable Housing in California

The National Low Income Housing Coalition has a great report on the state of affordable housing in California.

As Habitat for Humanity of Southern Santa Barbara County recently accepted applications for the 12 new Habitat homes being built on Canon Perdido Street, we witnessed the negative impact that the high cost of rental housing and traditional mortgages have had on many working families in our community.  Many middle and low-income families are priced out of the market due to the extremely high rental and home prices. According to the report: a minimum wage worker earning $8.00 an hour would have to work 130 hours a week, every week of the year, in order to make enough money to pay the fair market rent that is average for California. The situation is even worse in Santa Barbara where rental prices and home prices are higher than the state average.

Below is the report found at http://nlihc.org/oor/2012/CA:

Out of Reach 2012: California

In California, the Fair Market Rent (FMR) for a two-bedroom apartment is $1,353. In order to afford this level of rent and utilities – without paying more than 30% of income on housing – a household must earn $4,511 monthly or $54,127 annually. Assuming a 40-hour work week, 52 weeks per year, this level of income translates into a Housing Wage of $26.02.

In California, a minimum wage worker earns an hourly wage of $8.00. In order to afford the FMR for a two-bedroom apartment, a minimum wage earner must work 130 hours per week, 52 weeks per year. Or a household must include 3.3 minimum wage earners working 40 hours per week year-round in order to make the two-bedroom FMR affordable.

In California, the estimated mean (average) wage for a renter is $17.68. In order to afford the FMR for a two-bedroom apartment at this wage, a renter must work 59 hours per week, 52 weeks per year. Or, working 40 hours per week year-round, a household must include 1.5 workers earning the mean renter wage in order to make the two-bedroom FMR affordable.

Canon Perdido Affordable Homes update

The Canon Perdido Affordable Homes project received final approval from the Architectural Board of Review in late June. We anticipate receiving building permits in late-September to break ground on the 12 new homes this fall!

Our Family Selection Committee has completed all of the home visits for the qualifying homeowner applicants. They are currently going through the applications and will have the 12 families selected by early August. This is a huge job and we would like to thank Gloria Marcias-Perez, Jeannie Christensen, Marcy Jochim, Melissa Colborn, Kathy Clenet, Angela Bell, Jay Higgins, Ingrid Sarrat, and Inger Budke for their tireless dedication and many hours spent processing the applications. 

Below are a few snapshots of the Family Selection Volunteers helping at the April informational meetings for all interested applicants.

Poverty in America

DEMOS recently released an eye-opening report titled "Tracking American Poverty & Policy" which highlights the level of poverty in our country. Some startling stats include:

• In 2010, 46.1 million Americans lived in poverty; 75.9 million are in or near poverty and live on less than $26,100 a year for a family of 3; 
• 20.5 million people live in deep poverty, less than $8,700 for a family of 3;
• The largest age group of those living in poverty: Children, age 0-5;
• The largest family structure of those living in poverty: Single female-headed households with children.  

Be sure to read the full report here. 

These statistics seem almost unreal, but here at Habitat for Humanity of Southern Santa Barbara County we know them to be real as we see the face of poverty in our own community. During our recent homeowner application process we talked and met with many many families with total family incomes that fit within these markers.  We met families with children who struggle everyday to make ends meet on very small incomes.

The high costs of rent and traditional mortgages mean that many families are forced to spend a huge percentage of their incomes on housing. Here at Habitat we are committed to working with our partner families and ensuring that they are not paying more than 35% total on housing expenses. To learn more about our work, please visit: www.sbhabitat.org.

photo credit: Kim MacDonald, Habitat for Humanity International

ReStore Sale Saturday July 21st

Mark your calendar for the ReStore's annual summer sale and free BBQ on Saturday, July 21st. 

Volunteer with Habitat for Humanity in Santa Barbara

Every summer, Habitat for Humanity of Southern Santa Barbara County sees a large number of people interested in our volunteer opportunities. And this summer is no exception.

From construction volunteers to office volunteers and family selection volunteers, everyone who passes through our office door helps Habitat continue our work to provide safe, permanent, and affordable housing for low-income families in Santa Barbara. It is because of our faithful volunteers and donors that Habitat is able to build affordable homes for hardworking families in our community.

Our next volunteer orientation will be held on July 21st. If you are new to Habitat or would like more information on how you can help, join us for an hour to learn about the many ways you can volunteer with Habitat.

Habitat for Humanity Volunteer Orientation

Saturday, July 21 at 10:00am at Habitat ReStore: 6725 Hollister, Goleta, California 93117

 

 

Westmont College volunteers in the ReStore.

Each of these four volunteers have volunteered over 500 hours in the Habitat ReStore!