Habitat for Humanity of Southern Santa Barbara County Completes Three Homes with Help from Local Businesses and Volunteers
Emotional dedication as families get keys to their new homes
Habitat for Humanity of Southern Santa Barbara County is pleased to announce the completion of the first major Habitat for Humanity building project in Santa Barbara - three condominiums for very low-income families located near the upper end of State Street on Via Lucero.
"With the generosity of our donors, the work of local volunteers, and the support of our local government officials, three deserving families received keys to their new homes," said Joyce McCullough, Executive Director of Habitat for Humanity of Southern Santa Barbara County.
"This is an exciting time for Santa Barbara. Due to the efforts of many, low-income housing has been accomplished in an area many thought impossible. Habitat for Humanity fills a very important need here in Santa Barbara," said Mayor Blum. "The affordable housing crisis will only be solved with community involvement."
The homes will be sold to the three families at a price that covers the cost of materials to build them. Habitat carries the homeowner's no-interest, no-profit mortgage. Habitat for Humanity will work to assure that the family's shelter costs do not exceed 35% of their income, between 30% and 60% of area median income.
Volunteers provided most of the labor, with individuals, foundations and corporate donors providing the money and materials to build the Habitat houses. The Partner families, chosen from a field of hundreds based on need, invested hundreds of hours of labor - called "sweat equity" - into building their homes and the homes of others. Their mortgage payments will go into a revolving "Fund for Humanity" that is used to build more houses.
Over 1,000 volunteers provided labor, and over a million dollars was raised to fund the development. The Thrivent Financial for Lutherans organization, Habitat for Humanity International's largest funding partner, sponsored one of the Via Lucero homes, providing a matching grant of nearly $167,000, with an additional $23,500 contribution from local Lutheran congregations.
Plans for new building project to begin immediately
On the heels of this important milestone, Habitat for Humanity is also pleased to announce the acquisition of property for Habitat's next project. This property, located on San Pascual, will house four units of affordable housing for low-income families. The Peikert Group will be the architect for this new project. Many of the professionals and volunteers who worked on the Via Lucero homes have already agreed to provide service and support for this new project. Due to the increased scope and rising costs of building materials it is expected that Habitat for Humanity will need to raise at least two million dollars to fund this new building initiative. Those interested in more information should contact the Habitat office at mail@sbhabitat.org.
Donations and volunteers made it possible
Donations of materials came from Whirlpool, which donates a refrigerator and stove for every Habitat home built in the US; Certainteed Roofing, which provided all the roofing materials; and discounts or donations from Hayward Lumber, Marborg, Tyvek House Wrap, Amana, Whirlpool, Rheem, Capital Pacific Homes, Moen, MidState Bank & Trust, Capitol Hardware, All Around Landscape Supply, Pyramid Tile and Stone, Channel City Lumber, Granite Construction, Architectural Millwork, Abbey Carpet and SBS Windows.
Donations of professional labor came from Owen Guitteau, Doug Mershon, Gordon-Fiano Framing, ABS Roofing, Brian Garvey Construction, Richard Lopez and members of the local Electrician's Union, and Ralph Murrillo. Local architect Vadim Hsu led the design team for the Via Lucero project. His work with Habitat for Humanity includes not only this project, but also working as a volunteer crew leader on several Jimmy Carter Work Project trips overseas.
Corporate, civic and church work groups included Citrix Online, Maps.com, Vetronix, Rotaract, Allen Associates, Capital Pacific Homes, Commission Junction, Goleta Federated Womens Clubs, Lambda Theta Alpha, Vandenberg AFB, Maravilla Women's Group, the SB Lions Club, Santa Barbara Lutheran 
churches, Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, Santa Barbara Community Church, Goleta Presbyterian Church, Montecito Covenant Church, Ocean Hills Covenant Church, Cambridge Drive Community Church, St. Marks United Methodist Church, the SB Interfaith Initiative, B'nai B'rith Congregation, Roamin' Catholics, First Presbyterian Church, and Free Methodist Church.Foundation gifts came from Santa Barbara Foundation, Hutton Foundation, Cathcart Mellennium Foundation, Inc., Change A Life Foundation, The Jack in the Box Foundation, Lawson Valentine Foundation, Lopker Family Foundation, TENET Healthcare Foundation, Weingart Foundation, Wells Fargo Foundation, and others who wished to remain anonymous. A complete list of donors can be found on our website at www.sbhabitat.org.