There is no happier place than a Habitat build site. Friends are made, cultural differences vanish, skills are learned and people are transformed.
Find out how you can get invovled!
San Pascual Timeline
2008 - Family Selection; design, easements (done)
June 2009 - ABR approval (done)
September 2009 - Plan check response (done)
Subdivision map (done)
Permits received!!
Site preparation Jan 2010 - April 2010
"Vertical" Construction - May 2010
Homes complete December 2010
We recently 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. Previously living in unconverted garages and transitional housing, three hard-working, deserving families moved into their new homes in April, 2007. And, they’re taking full advantage of their new opportunity. One family has started their own landscaping business. Two of the moms now teach Spanish to the kindergarten class at Monte Vista School. And two of the little girls, who once never dared venture outside because of gang activity, now merrily ride their bikes around their driveway.
The Katrina House 2005
One of our proudest achievements was our partnership with several local organizations to build "The Katrina House". Crane Country Day School students, faculty and parents supported a project undertaken by Allen Associates to build a "home in a box" that was partially assembled here in Santa Barbara, then shipped to Bay St. Louis, Mississippi.
Remarkably, this house was the first house allowed to be built in that city, and stood amid rubble for many months as a hopeful sign of the rebirth of that area.
Timeline of projects completed in Santa Barbara
July 2000
Our first home renovation was for Irene of Goleta. As a low-income senior with MS she could not afford a bathroom remodel and could no longer take a bath or shower in her home so was forced to rinse off with the garden hose. Our volunteers added to, and completely renovated her bathroom to make it wheelchair accessible.
September 2000
Habitat volunteers painted apartments, installed locks, and hung carbon monoxide testers at Laguna Cottages, a nonprofit organization that provides affordable, downtown residences for the elderly and disabled.
December 2000
Habitat for Humanity of SSBC participated in a one day state-wide event dedicated to helping low-income seniors paint their homes. Paint California recognized Habitat for Humanity of SSBC for mobilizing the most volunteers of any participating organization.
June 2001
Installing a new roof for disabled seniors, Bob and Mary of Santa Barbara, who were in poor health and had mounting medical bills, proved that we could not only recruit volunteers but also train them. Many inexperienced volunteers learned how to roof a house, replace fascia and install shingles. Sadly, Bob has since passed away, but Mary is still enjoying her new roof.
March 2002
Before Casa Esparanza was complete, Habitat teamed with the Homeless Coalition to renovate the Banana Bungalow Youth Hostel to use as a temporary homeless shelter. Volunteers re-wired the kitchen, painted the interior and retrofitted the stairs making the facility livable.
June 2003
The wellbeing of children is core to our mission of ending substandard housing. With this in mind, Habitat’s volunteers installed a new play structure for the Goleta Boys and Girls Club and also repaired the perimeter fence providing much needed security.
December 2003
A truly inspiring project that brought out volunteers from across the community was the interior painting completed by Habitat volunteers for the opening of the Santa Barbara Rescue Mission’s Bethel House substance abuse treatment facility for women.
July 2005
Habitat was pleased to recruit volunteers to paint the St. Vincent’s Day Care facility, a part of the PATHS program. The PATHS program provides transitional housing and services for single mothers who are on welfare or whose incomes are at or below poverty level.
September 2005
One of our proudest achievements was our partnership with several local organizations to build "The Katrina House". Habitat for Humanity of SSBC along with Crane Country Day School students, faculty and parents supported a project undertaken by Allen Associates to build a "home in a box" that was partially assembled here in Santa Barbara, and then shipped to Bay St. Louis, Mississippi. Remarkably, this house was the first house allowed to be built in that city, and stood amid rubble for many months as a hopeful sign of the rebirth of that area.
2006-2007
The most notable and important project undertaken to date is our three-home building project on Via Lucero. Five adults and seven children moved into their new homes in April 2007 demonstrating that we can build owner-occupied affordable homes in Santa Barbara and transform lives. Over 1,000 volunteers contributed over 11,000 hours while the Partner families themselves invested over 1,300 hours to build their home and homes of their new neighbors.
2008 and beyond
Spurred by the success and momentum generated by the Via Lucero building project, we are looking forward to expanding our work to eliminate substandard housing. With your help, we will build four more homes for deserving, local low-income families.