Habitat for Humanity International provides families in need with something all families should have, decent homes that are safe and affordable.
This is accomplished though donations of land, money, materials and labor. Families put in hundred of hours of sweat equity building their homes, and those of their neighbors.
The organization's partner families typically earn about 50 to 80 percent of the area's median income. Their 0 percent interest mortgages are no more than one-third of their income, which keeps it affordable for them.
“With decent shelter, families are able to devote their attention to career opportunities, education and health. As the crushing cycle of poverty is broken, children benefit, neighborhoods unite and entire communities improve,” said Elizabeth Neubrand, director of development and community affairs for San Diego Habitat for Humanity Inc. “If we cannot provide a safe place for families to raise their children, how can we hope for a world that is safe?”
Habitat for Humanity is located in 92 countries and there are 1,700 affiliates in the United States. The San Diego affiliate has helped hundreds of families since it was established in 1987.
Last spring, the affiliate broke ground on Roosevelt Gardens, a development of 11 townhomes on Roosevelt Street in Carlsbad. The property was donated by the city of Carlsbad and the one and two bedroom units are expected to be complete this summer.
The Carlsbad Business Journal sat down with Neubrand to discuss the nonprofit in more detail and its mission to erase poverty housing from our community and the world.
CBJ: What services does your affiliate provide?
Neubrand: We offer a hand up, not a hand out. Our working families earn an income that may not be enough to qualify for traditional loans. The families apply and go through a rigorous approval process before becoming a partner family. What makes our organization unique is that the mortgages are recycled into revenue to build more homes. Each affiliate is responsible for its own fundraising and home building program. Community volunteers help build the homes. Donations of money and materials are crucial to keep our home building program moving forward. Another element of our affiliate is ReStore, which is a discount building materials store that is open to the public. The revenue helps to fund our operations. Restore is located at 10222 San Diego Mission Road, San Diego.
CBJ: How many people has your chapter helped since it was established?
Neubrand: We are about to break ground on our 100th home. Over the last 20 years, our affiliate has built 99 homes, including 21 rebuilds for the victims of the October 2003 wildfires. More than 50 are on the drawing board for the next three years. More than 400 San Diegans, most of which are children, now have a decent place to call home.
CBJ: How do you measure success?
Neubrand: Our founder, Millard Fuller, said, “Once a family is rooted, only then can they flourish.” This is so true. You see it in the eyes of the homeowners, their hopes and dreams for their children, when they are handed the keys to their first home. The possibilities become endless to them. We give them the foundation by building the home.
CBJ: What do you see for the future of the nonprofit?
Neubrand: We continue to seek donations of land where we can build more homes. If a parcel is donated to us, we will find a way to build as many homes as possible on the lot. We also build townhomes in an effort to maximize land use. We have a Women Build program right here in Carlsbad that will continue through 2009. Women from all walks of life come together on specific days to build a home for a single mom and her son. We continue to seek more volunteers for this campaign. We also hope to open another ReStore in North County. Although much has been accomplished, our work is not yet finished. There are still so many families living in substandard, overcrowded and unsafe conditions right here in our community. We continue to need the support of donors and the community at large.
San Diego Habitat For Humanity:
10222 San Diego Mission Road, San Diego
(619) 283-4663
www.sdhfh.org
This is accomplished though donations of land, money, materials and labor. Families put in hundred of hours of sweat equity building their homes, and those of their neighbors.
The organization's partner families typically earn about 50 to 80 percent of the area's median income. Their 0 percent interest mortgages are no more than one-third of their income, which keeps it affordable for them.
“With decent shelter, families are able to devote their attention to career opportunities, education and health. As the crushing cycle of poverty is broken, children benefit, neighborhoods unite and entire communities improve,” said Elizabeth Neubrand, director of development and community affairs for San Diego Habitat for Humanity Inc. “If we cannot provide a safe place for families to raise their children, how can we hope for a world that is safe?”
Habitat for Humanity is located in 92 countries and there are 1,700 affiliates in the United States. The San Diego affiliate has helped hundreds of families since it was established in 1987.
Last spring, the affiliate broke ground on Roosevelt Gardens, a development of 11 townhomes on Roosevelt Street in Carlsbad. The property was donated by the city of Carlsbad and the one and two bedroom units are expected to be complete this summer.
The Carlsbad Business Journal sat down with Neubrand to discuss the nonprofit in more detail and its mission to erase poverty housing from our community and the world.
CBJ: What services does your affiliate provide?
Neubrand: We offer a hand up, not a hand out. Our working families earn an income that may not be enough to qualify for traditional loans. The families apply and go through a rigorous approval process before becoming a partner family. What makes our organization unique is that the mortgages are recycled into revenue to build more homes. Each affiliate is responsible for its own fundraising and home building program. Community volunteers help build the homes. Donations of money and materials are crucial to keep our home building program moving forward. Another element of our affiliate is ReStore, which is a discount building materials store that is open to the public. The revenue helps to fund our operations. Restore is located at 10222 San Diego Mission Road, San Diego.
CBJ: How many people has your chapter helped since it was established?
Neubrand: We are about to break ground on our 100th home. Over the last 20 years, our affiliate has built 99 homes, including 21 rebuilds for the victims of the October 2003 wildfires. More than 50 are on the drawing board for the next three years. More than 400 San Diegans, most of which are children, now have a decent place to call home.
CBJ: How do you measure success?
Neubrand: Our founder, Millard Fuller, said, “Once a family is rooted, only then can they flourish.” This is so true. You see it in the eyes of the homeowners, their hopes and dreams for their children, when they are handed the keys to their first home. The possibilities become endless to them. We give them the foundation by building the home.
CBJ: What do you see for the future of the nonprofit?
Neubrand: We continue to seek donations of land where we can build more homes. If a parcel is donated to us, we will find a way to build as many homes as possible on the lot. We also build townhomes in an effort to maximize land use. We have a Women Build program right here in Carlsbad that will continue through 2009. Women from all walks of life come together on specific days to build a home for a single mom and her son. We continue to seek more volunteers for this campaign. We also hope to open another ReStore in North County. Although much has been accomplished, our work is not yet finished. There are still so many families living in substandard, overcrowded and unsafe conditions right here in our community. We continue to need the support of donors and the community at large.
San Diego Habitat For Humanity:
10222 San Diego Mission Road, San Diego
(619) 283-4663
www.sdhfh.org