Peoples' Self-Help Housing

The Mission of Peoples' Self-Help Housing is to provide affordable housing and programs leading to self-sufficiency for low-income families, seniors, and other special needs groups on California's Central Coast.

Summer is almost over and back-to-school just around the corner! We hope you will enjoy this August issue of our PSHH E-News. Please share it with your family, friends and business associates.

Peoples' Self-Help Housing E-Newsletter

$75,000 Grant from Santa Barbara Foundation Churches Help PSHH Children with Back-to-School Supplies Giving Corner Staff News Upcoming Events Quick Links

Enjoy the Summer Sunsets!

$75,000 Grant from Santa Barbara Foundation

The Santa Barbara Barbara Foundation Board of Trustees approved a Community Economic Recovery Fund (CREF) Impact grant for $75,000 to be used for a quick-response housing and shelter services in reaction to the current economic crisis.

"Challenges in the economy have started to take a significant toll on our communities' most vulnerable people, including those who have lost jobs and houses, or those who are having difficulty covering basic living expenses. This situation has placed excessive demands on social service organizations whose resources are strained." Ron V. Gallo, President & CEO of the Santa Barbra Foundation.

The grant awards to non profit organizations that serve Santa Barbara county were announced at ceremonies in Santa Maria and Santa Barbara in July. The grant fund grew significantly with the help of the Orfalea Foundations, and the Bower, Cavalletto, Gildea, Linked, McCune, and Volentine Foundations.

"These grant funds come at a time of unprecedented demand for affordable housing by households displaced due to the economic downturn. We are very grateful to the Santa Barbara Foundation and its partners," stated Jeanette Duncan, PSHH Executive Director.

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Churches Help PSHH Children with Back-to-School Supplies

Low-income children in San Luis Obispo county and Carpinteria will benefit from the generosity of local churches. First Presbyterian Church in SLO will supply backpacks and school supplies for over 50 school age children at Peoples' affordable housing properties.

Our Lady of Mt. Carmel in Montecito is coordinating a similar backpack project for 200 children living at PSHH properties in nearby Carpinteria in Santa Barbara county. Sister Kathleen Patrice is leading this effort with members of her Catholic parish.

Peoples' is appreciative of these generous church members and staff who are helping to make the new school year a great experience for needy children. If anyone would like to donate or coordinate a similar effort in other communities, contact Annette Montoya at (805) 781-3088 x457. 

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Giving Corner

Study Shows Generosity Still High

(July 21, 2009) A report published this month by Barclays Wealth indicates that high net worth donors in the United States and the United Kingdom continue to give generously despite the bad economy.

Wealthy investors in both the U.S. and the U.K. have been hit by declining company valuations, stock markets and house prices, bringing about concerns that charitable donations would suffer. However, research shows that this may not be the case.

The Barclays report, titled Tomorrow's Philanthropist, indicates that the wealthy consider philanthropy a key expense and would sooner give up comforts before cutting back on charitable giving. While high net worth individuals have cut back their donations by 2.2 percent, research shows young donors have increased their donations by 3 percent to 4 percent to help charities survive the downturn.

More than three-quarters (77%) of high net worth individuals surveyed in the U.S. and the U.K. said that they would not decrease their level of giving in the current downturn. "The fact that we're seeing levels of giving maintained in such a challenging economic environment is a real statement of intent and underscores the importance of philanthropy," noted Matt Brady, head of wealth advisory at Barclays Wealth.

If you would like information on giving opportunities to support the mission of Peoples' Self-Help Housing, contact Rochelle Rose CFRE, Development Director, at (805) 962-5152 x227 or rocheller@pshhc.org.

Published courtesy of Tomorrow's Philanthropist, a report by Ledbury Research for Barclays Wealth, who polled 500 high net worth individuals in the U.S. and the U.K. in May 2009.

Please visit the our GiftLaw pages for articles, updates case studies and valuable information about planned giving opportunities.

PSHH Planned Giving Gift Law Info Pages

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Staff News:
Javier Ortiz Joins PSHH as New IT Manager

Javier Ortiz joins PSHH as new Information Technology Manager. He will maintain internal and external network systems administration at Peoples' corporate offices in San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara and 38 properties on the central coast. He is a certified Microsoft systems engineer.

Ortiz holds a Bachelor of Science degree in information technology with a minor in accounting from California State University at Northridge.

A Santa Barbara native, Ortiz previously worked for a private computer consulting firm. He also has worked independently as a computer consultant and for Star Telecom in Santa Barbara.

Javier lives in Santa Barbara with his wife Bethany and two daughters. He enjoys running and walking in Santa Barbara with his family.

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