Happy New Year!
Thank you to our amazing supporters.
Here is a sneak peek at what's coming next.
|
|
Next Build for Habitat - 13 Homes in Watsonville! |
|
In December, we obtained possession of close to a one acre parcel, in Watsonville, where we plan on building 13 townhomes. It's exciting to be expanding our reach to South Santa Cruz County and providing affordable housing for 13 families in Watsonville. We expect to break ground later this year and transition our construction crew and volunteers to this project as soon as we complete the eleven home Rodeo Creek Court project. |
|
Two projects complete in Marina!
Renovation and an ADU
|
|
Julia is a single mom, working for a nonprofit in Monterey. Julia and Sebastian just moved into their new home on January 6! |
Did you know that Habitat Homes remain affordable housing in perpetuity? That's right! When a Habitat homeowner moves on, Habitat has the first right of repurchase and we turn around and provide another family with an affordable mortgage and a chance at first-time homeownership.
Sometimes, these homes need a little love. So, our dedicated volunteers help refurbish as well as build homes from the ground up.
For Julia and her son, Sebastian, this was how they got their home in Marina. It had been a Habitat home since 2002, and when the previous owners left in 2021, we were able to find a deserving family to move in once we spiffed up the place.
|
|
Through Habitat's program, My House My Home, aimed at helping seniors age in place, Margaret can stay near her kids and in the community she loves. |
Margaret has lived in her home in Marina for nine years. Being over 65 years old, she is hoping to retire soon. However, before finding Habitat, she wasn't sure how she could afford to stay in her home and found herself, heartbroken, researching a potential move out of state.
She said that getting her application accepted by Habitat was like finding a "port in a storm." In Marina, she lives near both of her grown children and relies on their support. She feels deeply connected to her community and her neighbors.
For all of these reasons, we are delighted to have built an Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) on Margaret's property that she can rent out for additional income.
|
|
Each year, we host Women Build, a special event where we invite business and community to come together to empower and uplift women's roles in construction. This year, we have decided to expand from one week to a full month of builds. We invite volunteers to work on the build site, alongside our professional construction crew, future homeowners, and other volunteers. No prior construction experience is required.
There are many ways to participate - volunteer at the build site, donate to support the cause, or sponsor the event as a local business committed to empowering women and working together to build stronger neighborhoods.
|
|
Santa Cruz ReStore
Donation pick ups throughout Santa Cruz County
|
|
Drive a little, save a lot. Yes we moved to Watsonville (555 Main Street) but we guarantee you will find something in the ReStore to make the trip worthwhile.
We also still do donation pick ups in Santa Cruz and the Santa Cruz Mountains multiple days a week. Please reach out if you have treasure to share. All donations are tax deductible, and all ReStore sales support Habitat's work to build more affordable housing.
|
|
Hellos and Goodbyes
on The Habitat Board of Directors
|
|
|
|
Fond farewell, Carol and Pete
It is always tough to bid farewell to a valued Board Member. This December, we honored two departing Board members, Carol Berg and Pete Kennedy. Thank you for your three years of dedicated service to Habitat for Humanity Monterey Bay.
|
|
|
Pete Kennedy, 2019 - 2022 |
|
|
Welcome new Board Member, Mark Thomas!
We are honored to welcome our newest Board member, Mark Thomas. Mark is an avid outdoors person and a dedicated, engaged Santa Cruz community member. He comes to Habitat with a world of experience in land development, real estate, law, and nonprofit leadership. He told us he joined the Habitat Board to make the community he loves a better, more inclusive place to live and to provide affordable housing to as many people as possible. Welcome aboard, Mark! We are so glad you joined our team!
|
|
Celebrating Jim Chambers
25 years of volunteerism
|
|
Jim has devoted 25 years of volunteer service to advance the progress of our home builds. He is a member of our “Golden Hammer” crew, a group of dedicated, experienced volunteers who assist at the build site each Tuesday. Our Construction Manager, Keaton, says, "Jim is an expert at his craft. His precision and eye for detail makes him the perfect volunteer for complex tasks and he has even morphed the art of building window sills into a science through his own innovative technique."
On Tuesday, November 22, we gathered Jim's friends, family, and Habitat staff to celebrate Jim's 90th birthday. You read that correctly - At 90-years-young, Jim shows up every Tuesday (and more) to volunteer his time and expertise to help build affordable housing in his community. Jim was born on Thanksgiving Day, 1932, and I can tell you we give thanks regularly for his commitment to our work.
|
|
Thank you to all our generous donors!
Winter Giving was a success!
|
|
Annual Campaign: "Everyone Deserves a Decent Place to Live" |
|
We were just blown away by the generosity this past winter giving season. Some of you gave to our annual campaign, and some of you gave through Monterey County Gives or Santa Cruz Gives. And of course, some bid in the online auction, Home for the Holidays! Between all of these efforts, we raised almost $200,000 for our mission to bring people together to build homes, communities, and hope. Thank you!!! |
|
We cannot build the homes, communities, and hope we do without the support of our donors and volunteers. We thank you for your support! |
|
108 Magnolia Street, Santa Cruz, CA 95062 | (831) 469-4663 | www.habitatmontereybay.org |
|
Connect with us on social media! |
|
|
|
|
|
|
