New Habitat affordable homes project update

Plans for the 12 low-income Habitat for Humanity homes which will be built on Canon Perdido Street in Santa Barbara are coming along. We will soon receive recommendations from the  Development Application Review Team which has been reviewing the architectural plans for the past month. We are on schedule to submit the plans to the Santa Barbara Planning Commission and Architectural Board of Review later this fall.   

Habitat for Humanity Family Partner Update

Last December Raquel and her young daughter were given keys to their new Habitat for Humanity home in Santa Barbara. Before moving into their new home the two lived at St. Vincent's, a transitional housing facility for single mothers and their children.

The stability of owning their own home has allowed the two to thrive and just 9 months after moving in, Raquel is about to begin a new chapter and a dream she thought was out of reach. Raquel will begin studying for a masters degree in Psychology later this month. With the consistency and security that comes with owning her own home Raquel is able to devote more attention to her daughter and focus on their futures.  

Habitat Volunteer Lending his Support to Haiti

During the week of November 5-12 local Habitat for Humanity of Southern Santa Barbara County volunteer David Chapman will travel to Haiti to volunteer as part of the Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Work Project. Working alongside international volunteers and Haitian families, David will give a week of his time to help build 100 core houses in Leogane, a town 18 miles west of Port-au-Prince. The January 2010 earthquake's epicenter was located 8 miles directly below Leogane, destroying more than 80% of the town's structures and leaving thousands homeless.  

The 400 international volunteers supporting this year's Carter Work Project will build with many of the Haitians who have already been trained by Habitat for Humanity Haiti local resource center. Eventually, the new community called "Santo" will provide as many as 500 families with a healthy and secure place to live. Habitat has worked with the local families to address all the needs of the community, such as: house designs, environmental concerns, employment opportunities, proper water and sanitation, education, and of course infrastructure. Check out this site for more information on the Carter Work Project.

David has been a wonderful and dedicated Habitat volunteer in Santa Barbara, putting in over 350 volunteer hours at the San Pascual build site. Please join us in thanking David for his commitment to building affordable homes here and in Haiti. 

Vote to help Habitat for Humanity win $50,000!

Montecito Bank & Trust has selected Habitat for Humanity of Southern Santa Barbara County to be one of the nine local non-profits competing to be the beneficiary for the 2012 Santa Barbara Triathlon. Donations from this annual event could reach $50,000 which would substantially support Habitat as we raise funds for the Canon Perdido Affordable homes project which will provide homes for 12 local families.

The critical factor in Habitat for Humanity being selected is your vote!  

Please take a moment and click on the link below. Select Habitat for Humanity from the list of organizations to submit your vote. It takes less than 30 seconds so please do it today!

Cast your vote: http://www.montecito.com/Depts/Community/Survey4Charity.aspx  

Only one vote per person is allowed. Please share this email with your family, friends, coworkers and any one else you can think of and ask that they vote for Habitat. Voters do not need to live in Santa Barbara.

If selected, Habitat for Humanity will devote the funds to the construction of the 12 new low-income homes that we are building on Canon Perdido Street. These 12 homes will provide safe, decent and affordable housing for hard-working and deserving families in our community.  

  

The high price of housing in Santa Barbara means that hundreds of low-income families are forced to live in overcrowded apartments or converted garages, many of which do not meet minimum health and safety standards. Our immediate goal is to help 12 families move from substandard housing into their own home and with your help, and your vote, we can accomplish this goal.  

Thank you in advance for taking the time to make your voice and your vote heard today.  We would also like to thank Montecito Bank & Trust for their generous support of Habitat and other worthy organizations in Santa Barbara.

Just think, with one click you can help Habitat raise $50,000!

Rob Lowe "Lends a Hand" to Habitat for Humanity

We love hearing about celebrities using their status to do good. Today we learn about Rob Lowe and other celebrities "lending" a hand to help Habitat for Humanity's rebuilding efforts in Haiti. Valspar Hands for Haiti is an initiative to auction off the handprints of celebrities to benefit Habitat's work in rebuilding Haiti after the devastating earthquake that struck a year and a half ago.

Port-au-Prince 1 year after the earthquake, photo courtesy HFHI

The Valspar Hands for Habitat auction started yesterday. To find out how you too can "lend a hand", head on over to www.Facebook.com/ValsparPaint. 

To learn more about Habitat's relief work in Haiti, please click here. And be sure to read the full press release: Actor Rob Lowe "Lends a Hand" to Habitat for Humanity to Launch the Valspar Hands for Habitat Program

photo courtesy of Habitat for Humanity Int'l