Dear Friends,
Thank you for your commitment to Habitat for Humanity. We appreciate the support of many volunteers, donors and friends who care about families in our community that need a hand up, not a hand out.
Spurred by the success and momentum generated from the San Pascual affordable homes project, we are thrilled to announce a new project which will be our largest to date – and we need your help. This new project on Canon Perdido Street will consist of 12 new Habitat homes. We are currently in the architectural planning phase and plan to break ground and start construction in the fall of 2012. This exciting project will require an entire community’s dedication to bring to reality, and we hope we can count on your continued support.
Safe and stable homes are the foundation of successful families and communities. However, owning a home in Santa Barbara is not possible for many of our neighbors. In one of the nation’s most beautiful and affluent communities, the pockets of poverty are often well-hidden. Many of the city’s workforce lives in unhealthy, deteriorating or overcrowded apartments due to high rental and land cost. As a result of the affordable housing crisis in our community, many families are costburdened and spend the majority of their income on housing, leaving little remaining money to pay for other basic necessities, such as food, healthcare, and clothing. Loss of a job or any unexpected expenses, such as a high medical bill, could mean an inability to make rent, forcing families to live in unstable transitional housing or worse...on the streets.
Studies show that homeownership confers substantial benefits, especially to children. Children of homeowners score better on both reading and math exams, graduate at a higher rate, have fewer behavioral problems, and enjoy a better social environment. As the crushing cycle of poverty is broken, children benefit, neighborhoods are revitalized and entire communities improve.
Habitat is able to build homes cost effectively through our unique model of combining donations of money, labor and materials, national partnerships, community support, and sweat equity. We serve low to very-low income families who earn between 40-60% of the median family income as defined by HUD. Partner families are chosen from a pool of candidates that meet our eligibility requirements and contribute at least 250 hours of sweat equity per adult towards the building of their new home.
Partner families then purchase the homes from Habitat through interest-free loans designed to fit within 35% of the homeowner's annual income. Affordability covenants recorded with the property will retain them in Santa Barbara's affordable housing inventory for a minimum of 45 years. Their mortgage payments go into a revolving Fund for Humanity to help fund the construction of more houses in our community. Through this approach, Habitat makes no profit and gives partner families a hand up not a hand out, restoring the hope and dignity that poverty can strip away.
With your help, Habitat for Humanity of Southern Santa Barbara County can make a difference in the lives of local families. Together we can transform lives.
In hope and friendship,
Executive Director