Featured News:
- Volunteer Nathan spent his 30th birthday party helping Habitat for Humanity
- Dontate to the ReStore, a building materials recycling and retail center
- Read Habitat's January e-Newsletter
Habitat will begin selecting families to live in the 12 homes we will build on Canon Perdido Street later this spring. All interested applicants must attend one information session in April to learn about the qualification and application process. Please contact Habitat at 692-2226 or mail@sbhabitat.org with any questions. The following informational meetings are confirmed. Check back as we will up adding additional meetings across the community.
Saturday, April 14 at 9:00 AM
East Side Library, 1102 East Montecito St., Santa Barbara
Wednesday, April 18th at 6:00 PM
Westside Community Center, 423 W. Victoria Street, Santa Barbara
Thursday, April 19th at 6:00 PM
Grace Lutheran Church, 3869 State Street, Santa Barbara
Friday, April 20th at 6:00 PM
Main Family Resource Center, Auditorium, 5201 Eighth Street, Carpinteria
Saturday, April 21st at 9:00 AM
Isla Vista Teen Center, 889 Camino del Sur, Isla Vista
Monday, April 23rd at 6:00 PM
St. Raphaels Catholic Church, 5444 Hollister Avenue, Goleta
Local volunteer David Chapman spent a week in Haiti this past November. We have uploaded a number of David's photos and stories to Habitat's blog. Please be sure to take a look. David was part of the Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Work Project which is building 500 homes in Leogane, Haiti. Thanks to volunteers like David, Habitat for Humanity is working to move more families into safe, decent, and permanent housing in Haiti.
On December 10th Habitat completed a home repair for an elderly widowed homeowner. A group of 30 volunteers, celebrating a 30th birthday, spent the day clearing brush for fire safety, removing a broken fence that surrounds the property, and landscaping the front and back of the house.
“My home is in a wildfire-risk area, so that is my first concern,” writes homeowner Ann, “removing flammable burst and woodpiles, trimming dry grass and weeds along the edges, and other outdoor tasks that show pride of ownership. In 50 years, our Lane has changed from semi-rural to semi-suburban, and our property is now the worst looking of all.”
After a full day's work, Ann's property is cleared of brush and in much better condition. Habitat loves partnering with volunteers looking to give back to the community, and Nathan's birthday party was a wonderful example of that.
A Brush with Kindness is a program that helps low-income homeowners struggling to restore and maintain a safe and decent place to live. The program was created with the goal to help homeowners reclaim the pride and dignity of homeownership by offering affordable means of exterior home improvements and maintain the value of the home. Do you or a neighbor need A Brush with Kindness? Please fill out our elegibility checklist and return to ABWK@sbhabitat.org or Habitat for Humanity of SSBC, PO Box 176, Goleta, CA 93116.
In December 2010 Raquel and her young daughter were given keys to their new Habitat for Humanity home in Santa Barbara. For Habitat partner families the process of moving into their home is a journey, including up to 250 "sweat equity" hours helping to build their homes and attending the 16-month family partnership curriculum. The result is a home that the families can feel proud of, and a hand-up to a safe, sound and clean enviornment where they can grow.
Thoughout construction of the four Habitat homes, Raquel and her daughter 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.
A world where everyone has a decent place to live. Habitat for Humanity of Southern Santa Barbara seeks to unite people and communities in a spirit of true partnership by building houses with families in need regardless of race, nationality or religion.
