Open House of the Completed Canon Perdido Affordable Homes

You are invited to the Canon Perdido Open House

With just the last details left on the homes of the Canon Perdido Project, Habitat for Humanity of Southern Santa Barbara County would like to invite you to an open house event on Saturday, November 15th 2014. The project homes are located at 822 E. Canon Perdido Street, Santa Barbara CA 93103.

Designed by architects Ryan Mills and Ed DeVicente, the units range from 750-1,200 square feet each and are 100% affordable and very low income units. The project includes 2 three-bedroom units, 8 two-bedroom units, and 2 one-bedroom units, which are all completely accessible to disabled persons.

Built in line with Passive House standards, the project aimed to achieve “near zero” energy usage on the homes by combining passive components such as window placements, insulation, Energy Star appliances and building wrap with “active components such as solar thermal and photovoltaic systems. With the finishing touches being added, these homes will be the first affordable housing development in Southern California certified as a “Passive House”, and the homes will have a 70-80% reduction in energy use over the current energy code requirements.

Before the homeowners move in, Habitat for Humanity would love to welcome the community to tour the finished develeopment of the homes and the future homeowners will be offerring tours of their new homes throughout the day! Georgia's Smokehouse gourmet food truck, offering a full menu, will be parked onsite from 11:30-1:30pm.

We would like to thank the donors, volunteers, and community for this joint effort in successfully completing this project and would like to share with the community and those interested in what Habitat for Humanity has been involved with for the past two years!

Please come join us and we hope to see you soon.

Building Homes, Building Hope by the numbers

We are thrilled to share some of Habitat for Humanity of Southern Santa Barbara County's recent goals and results.

GOAL 1: Provide affordable housing in Santa Barbara:

•        Habitat has completed stable homes for 7 families in our community.

•          Habitat will begin construction on 12 more homes in the fall of 2012.

GOAL 2: Partner with low-income homeowners in need of home maintenance:

•        Habitat has completed 6 home repairs through our A Brush with Kindness program.

•         Volunteers from 8 organizations and community groups helped completed these projects.

GOAL 3: Generate a sustainable income for our affiliate though the ReStore:

•        Profits at the ReStore are up 72% for the first six months of this fiscal year.

•          The first six months of the fiscal year ReStore cover 68% of Habitat’s operating costs.

GOAL 4: Facilitate in the re-use of construction materials and home-improvement items:

•        The ReStore truck completed 144 donation pick-ups for the first 5 months of 2012.

•         This is in addition to the 322 donation drop-offs made directly at the ReStore for the same time.

GOAL %: Mobilize volunteers and community groups to support our Habitat's mission:

•         The ReStore welcomed 131 volunteers in 2012, resulting in 1,729 volunteer hours. 

•        From May 2011-May 2012 the ReStore clocked 5,381 volunteer hours. 

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Building Homes, Building Hope in Santa Barbara, CA

We hope you'll take the time to read Habitat for Humanity of Southern Santa Barbara County's June mid-year appeal letter. In it we share information on our upcoming 12 home project on Canon Perdido Street in Santa Barbara, as well as current goals and successes.

Click on each image to view in a larger format.

Looking for Qualified Homeowners

Habitat for Humanity of Southern Santa Barbara County will soon begin selecting families for the 12 new affordable homes which will be built on East Canon Perdido Street. Next month Habitat will hold a series of community-wide informational meetings for all interested applicants. We need YOUR help in spreading the word about this upcoming home-ownership opportunity in Santa Barbara!

At 822 and 824 East Canon Perdido Street, Habitat for Humanity will build 12 affordable condominiums, each with a once-car garage. 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. 

Below is a preview of our marketing material communicating the upcoming home-ownership opportunity, Habitat's requirements, and program. If you know of any families or individuals in need of a safe, decent, and affordable place to live in Santa Barbara, please encourage them to attend one of the informational meetings in April. No need to RSVP, these meetings are open to the public.

Click on the above pictures to enlarge.

Homeownership Opportunity in Santa Barbara

Habitat for Humanity of Southern Santa Barbara County will being selecting families for the 12 new affordable homes which will be built on Canon Perdido Street. Construction on these 12 homes will begin in the fall of 2012. All interested homeowners must attend one of the following information meetings to receive an application.

Habitat for Humanity provides homes for people who have low-to-very low income status. The total annual income cannot exceed 40-80% of the Area Median Income (AMI) in Santa Barbara. 2012 figures below. 

• 1 person family total income--$21,280 - $42,500
• 2 person family total income--$24,320 - $48,600
• 3 person family total income--$27,360 - $54,650
• 4 person family total income--$30,360 - $60,700
• 5 person family total income--$32,800 - $65,600
• 6 person family total income--$35,240 - $70,450

Applications for Partner Families are accepted based on the following criteria:

• Family income between 40% to 80% of area median income;
• Currently living in one of the following substandard conditions: 
• deteriorated, unsafe, or overcrowded housing;
• transitional housing; 
• paying over 50% of total annual family income for rent;
• Ability to make monthly mortgage payments designed to fit within 34$ of the family's income; 
• Willingness to partner with Habitat and invest 250 hours per adult of their own "sweat equity" into their houses, along with attending family partnership curriculum classes that address topics such as mortgages, insurances, and other homeowner responsibilities. 
• Legal resident of the U.S. and have lived or worked in Southern Santa Barbara County for the past year. 

Interested in becoming a Habitat Homeowner?

Habitat for Humanity of Southern Santa Barbara County will begin the application process for the 12 new homes which will be built on Canon Perdido Street. Habitat will be holding a number of information sessions for prospective Habitat homeowners across the community in the month of April to go over the application process and eligibility requirements. All interested applicants must attend one of these sessions to receive a full application packet. 

Saturday, April 14 at 9:00 AM
East Side Library, 1102 East Montecito St., Santa Barbara, CA

Thursday, April 19th at 6:00 PM
Grace Lutheran Church, 3869 State Street, Santa Barbara, CA   

Friday, April 20th at 6:00 PM
Main Family Resource Center, 5201 Eighth Street, Carpinteria, CA


Saturday, April 21st at 9:00 AM
Isla Vista Teen Center, 889 Camino del Sur, Isla Vista, CA

Monday, April 23rd at 6:00 PM
St. Raphaels Catholic Church, 5444 Hollister Avenue, Goleta, CA 

Presentations will be held in both English and Spanish. These are open to the public, please mark your calendar and learn more about Habitat's home ownership opportunity.

Canon Perdido passes Santa Barbara Planning Commission

Last Thursday Habitat for Humanity SSBC presented plans for our next affordable homes project, 12 new homes on Canon Perdido Street, to the Santa Barbara Planning Commission. We are pleased to share that it was a unanimous decision in favor of Habitat's project.  

We hope to present the project to the Architectural Board of Review in February and have completed plans ready to submit to the Building Department this spring. If all goes according to schedule, Habitat hopes to break ground on the project later this fall. This is an exciting time as the Canon Perdido project is Habitat's largest project to date in Santa Barbara. Thank you for joining with us and making homeownership a reality for 12 additional families in our community. 

Stay tuned for more details! 

Side perspective for the Canon Perdido Affordable Homes project.

Back perspective of the Canon Perdido Affordable Homes project.

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.

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

How are Habitat Partner Families Selected?

We're often asked how partner families are selected. Habitat for Humanity of Southern Santa Barbara County does not build homes for families, rather we build alongside families who demonstrate the need and willingness to partner with us. After a family applies, our family selection committee chooses partner families based on their level of need as well as the following criteria: 

• They currently reside in deteriorated, unsafe or overcrowded conditions;  
• Have a total family income between 40-60% of area median income or $29,600 to $44,400 for a family of four;
• Ability to make monthly mortgage payments designed to fit within 30-35% of the family's income;
• Committed to investing 250 hours per adult family member of their own "sweat equity" labor into their houses, along with attending a training curriculum that addresses topics such as mortgages, insurance, and other homeowner responsibilities.   

We will open the application process for our next Habitat project in Santa Barbara, the Canon Perdido homes,  in 2012. If you would like to be on our waiting list, please email mail@sbhabitat.org

 

Blueprints to 12 new sustainable homes for families in need

In December 2010 Habitat for Humanity of Southern Santa Barbara County acquired a 19,000 square-foot lot (about half an acre) thanks to Redevelopment Agency funds provided by the City of Santa Barbara. This new property is on located at 822 and 824 E. Cannon Perdido Street near Milpas Street.

On this site, which is situated between a multi-family apartment complex and commercial buildings, Habitat for Humanity SSBC plans to build 12 units. The project will consist of 100% affordable low and very-low income unites including one 1-bedroom units, nine 2-bedroom units, and two 3-bedroom units, which range between 750 and 1,200 square feet each. 

Here are a few of our working pans (designed by architects Ryan Mills and Ed de Vicente, from DMA Architecture). These drawings are going before the Planning Commission for concept review in June and are subject to small changes:

We seek to be environmentally responsible in our construction and the Canon Perdido homes will be designed according to Passive House principles. Our goal is to achieve "net zero" energy usable on these homes by combining passive components such as window placement, insulation and building wrap with "active" components such as solar thermal and photovoltaic systems.  


Further reading: Read about Habitat's sustainable and "green" building initiatives.

First Photo of Habitat's New Property in Santa Barbara

Last month we told you about the new property that Habitat for Humanity of Southern Santa Barbara County acquired. Well here is the first picture of the property:

Now if you know your Santa Barbara landmarks, you know that the infamous "cow building" is on the corner of Milpas and E. Canon Perdido Streets. Seeing as how we are going to spend the next few years looking at that cow, we decided to do some research and learned that the cow has been living in Santa Barbara since the 1940s! Who knew? (Edhat has a great article on the "Milpas Cow History.")

New Property Acquired!

Don't put your hammers and nails down just yet. Encouraged by the success of the San Pascual site, Habitat for Humanity of Southern Santa Barbara County closed escrow on December 15th on property which will be the future site of twelve new Habitat low-income homes. As you may recall, our dedication ceremony for the San Pascual homes was on December 14th. Yes, just one short day later we closed escrow on the next property. We don't let any time waste around here!

We were able to purchase this property, located on Canon Perdido near Milpas Street, with a generous loan from the City of Santa Barbara. We are eager to get to work on this larger project and are humbled and grateful for the support of the entire community. Stay tuned for more information as we move ahead with our third major home-building project.

We would not have been able to acquire this new property without the dedication and support of so many. Their dedication to the mission and vision of Habitat will help us provide housing for an even lager number of local families in need.