About Our Affiliate
Habitat for Humanity of Southern Santa Barbara County is dedicated to eliminating substandard housing in our community.
By providing safe, decent, affordable homes, Habitat for Humanity opens a door for impoverished families, allowing them the opportunity for increased self-esteem and self-reliance. With the stability of a permanent home, families can devote increased attention to jobs, education and health. As the crushing cycle of poverty is broken, their children benefit, their neighborhoods are revitalized and entire communities improve. Read our 3-year, strategic plan (PDF).
History
Incorporated in 2000, Habitat for Humanity of SSBC is an independent affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International-the largest nonprofit home builder in the world and the sixteenth largest builder in the country. Through the years we have not only completed our own projects but have also collaborated with other non-profits on rehabilitation projects for homeless shelters, senior housing and day care centers, and renovated homes of residents who were too infirm to make needed upgrades.
In 2007 we completed our first major Habitat for Humanity building project in Santa Barbara-three condominiums located near the upper end of State Street on Via Lucero. Coming from unconverted garages and transitional housing, three hard-working and deserving families are thrilled with their beautiful new 1,150 square-foot units, each with three bedrooms and two bathrooms.
Volunteers provide most of the labor, with individuals, churches and corporate donors providing the money and materials to build Habitat houses. Partner families themselves invest hundreds of hours of labor called "sweat equity" into building their homes and the homes of others. Their mortgage payments go into a revolving Fund for Humanity that is used to build more houses.
How Does Habitat Work?
Habitat is able to build homes cost effectively through our unique model of combining government funds, donated labor and materials, national partnerships, sweat equity and community support. Partner families purchase the homes from Habitat through interest-free loans. 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 not a hand out but a hand up, restoring the hope and dignity that poverty can strip away.You too can help Habitat build stable families, safer neighborhoods and caring communities. Join us in this exciting mission by volunteering, joining a committee, and/or making a contribution and together we will tackle the challenge of ending poverty housing.
Families are selected by a dedicated committee of volunteers after a detailed process, starting with
orientation meetings held throughout the community. Qualified families submit an application, which is
further vetted via credit checks, home visits and employment and/or income verification. The family
selection committee chooses homeowners based on their level of need, their willingness to become
partners in the program and their ability to repay the mortgage. Every Habitat for Humanity affiliate follows a
nondiscriminatory policy of family selection. Neither race nor religion is a factor in choosing the families
who receive Habitat houses.
Homeowner Partner Guidelines
Habitat for Humanity of Southern Santa Barbara County is an equal opportunity housing provider. Our
policy is to provide housing for people who have low-to-very low income status. This means that the
total annual income for the family may not exceed 40% - 60% of Area Median Income (AMI) as defined
by the US Housing and Urban Development Department (HUD). Examples for 2008 are indicated here:
- One person family total income--$21,800 - $32,700
- Two person family total income--$24,880 - $37,320
- Three person family total income--$28,000 - $42,000
- Four person family total income--$31,120 - $46,680
- Five person family total income--$33,600 - $50,400
Applications for "Partner" Families will be accepted based on four criteria:
- Unsuitable present housing -- family currently residing in deteriorated, unsafe or overcrowded conditions;
- Total family income between 40% and 60% of area median income;
- Willingness of homeowner family to partner with Habitat for Humanity through the contribution of "sweat equity" toward the construction of their home or others in the project, and willingness to repay Habitat for Humanity for the costs involved in the construction of their home.
- Ability to pay a no-interest mortgage to Habitat for Humanity