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.

From our "family" to yours, Happy New Year! We hope you enjoy this January issue of E-News!

Peoples' Self-Help Housing E-Newsletter

29 New Affordable Apartments Open in Avila Beach
Thanks to You...
Planned Giving Corner
PSHH and TDG Staff News
Upcoming Events

29 New Affordable Apartments Open in Avila Beach

Margaux Hartman, Frank Donahue, Shirley Goetz and Augie Sinclair.
All four were either displaced due to the clean up or have been long time residents of Avila Beach.

Peoples' Self-Help Housing announces the completion of a 29-unit permanently affordable apartment complex called "Lachen Tara" in Avila Beach. The site is located on the 200 block of Ocean Oaks Drive, on the corner of Laurel Lane and Ocean Oaks Drive. The Grand Opening Celebration will take place Friday, March 27th, at 11 AM.

Nearly 20 years after the original discovery of contamination at the site, families have started to move in to new rental housing. The new apartments include eight studios, 18 one-bedroom, and three two-bedroom units from 450 to 880 square feet. Four units are reserved for farm workers and eight units are reserved for people with special needs. Rents range between $400 to $700.

Housing preference was given to those who were affected by the Unocal clean-up and/or currently live or work in Avila Beach. This was in response to the community's desire for a job-housing balance. All applicants had to meet low-income eligibility criteria.  

Event Sponsors to date:

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Thanks to you . . .

Stuff the Bus volunteers and PSHH staff enroute, picking up toy boxes en route.

On behalf of the Board of Directors of Peoples' Self-Help Housing, the staff, and our residents, I would like to extend my gratitude for the generosity of local businesses and caring community members for their support of our 4th Annual Stuff the Bus campaign. Because of you, we distributed over 600 gifts and book gift cards to needy children living in our Santa Barbara-area low income housing complexes, in December.

Despite a gloomy economy, everyone pulled together to make this Stuff the Bus even better than last year! Special acknowledgment goes to our sponsors Thomas, Jr. and Nancy Crawford, Santa Barbara Bank & Trust, Barnes & Noble, Efren Fajardo Painting, Metropolitan Transit District, Ray Gateley, Peikert Group Architects, Rabobank, MarBorg Industries, and Starbuck's Coffee Company.

We are also grateful for the following supporters Ads on the Wall, Nu Image Signs, Santa Barbara Police Dept., Antioch University, Arlington Theatre, Museum of Natural History, Barnes & Noble, Oliver & Espig Jewelers, Community West Bank, S.B. Public Library, Decker's Outdoor, S.B. County Assn. of Governments, Fresco Café, Saks Fifth Avenue, Hotel Santa Barbara, and LF Stores.

For many of our families, these were the only gifts 'under the tree' for their children. Thank you for making the holiday season brighter for children in need.

Jeanette Duncan, Executive Director

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Planned Giving Corner

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PSHH and TDG Staff News

Kimberly S. Gaspar
Kim has been appointed the new Educator at Peoples' Self-Help Housing's Youth Education Enhancement Center at Canyon Creek housing complex in Paso Robles. Gaspar supervises the Youth Education Enhancement Program (YEEP) which provides daily quality after school education for over 80 K-6 school children from five Paso Robles elementary schools. The highly-acclaimed program is funded in part by a State of California, Department of Education 21st Century grant.

Gaspar holds a B.S. degree in Child and Family Development from Cal Poly and previously worked in the Paso Robles School District. She has volunteered for the Girl Scouts, Cub Scouts, and the Parent Teacher Organization at Lewis Middle School. Gaspar also served as chairperson of the successful grassroots effort to pass the $20 million bond for capital improvements at Paso Robles High School.

Deepa Mallareddy
Deepa M. Mallareddy has joined Peoples' Self-Help Housing as Case Manager in the Supportive Housing Program. Mallareddy provides social work and case management services for residents of Peoples' low-income rental properties in Santa Maria and San Luis Obispo areas. She also assists in helping individuals transition from home-lessness to permanent housing at People's properties.

Mallareddy holds a degree in interdisciplinary studies from UCSB and a Master's in Communication Studies (intercultural) from San Jose State University. She has over 14 years of experience in the human service field, most recently for a pilot program to improve the health of Salinas farm workers for The California Endowment. She worked for the California Rural Assistance League, La Clinica de Tolosa in Paso Robles, and the Hotline of San Luis Obispo County. Deepa grew up in San Luis Obispo and is trilingual being fluent in English, Spanish and Kannada (southern India language).

Guisela Esparza
Site Manager
Ladera Street Apts.
Santa Barbara

Barbara Robles
Site Manager
3 downtown complexes
Santa Barbara

Randy Suyematsu
Site Manager
Lachen Tara Apts.
Avila Beach

Staff Anniversaries:

PSHH

Jim Hurst
5 Years
Joanne Imura
15 Years
Scott Smith
25 Years

TDG

Leona Ambrosetti
10 Years
Sun Lee
10 Years 

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