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.

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Peoples' Self-Help Housing E-Newsletter

Online: Still Time for Year End Donations Santa "Stuffs the Bus" for Peoples' Kids El Patio Hotel in Ventura Latest PSHH Acquisition Self-Help Homes in Templeton Make Progress Youth Learn the Dangers of Gangs/Drugs Local Bank and Church Support Staff News Upcoming Events

Happy New Year!

Online: Still Time for Year End Donations

Data from the online fund-raising company Convio confirms that donors make more online gifts to non profit organization on December 31 than any other day of the year.

During the last week of the year, December 25-31, donors make nearly five times as many contributions as they do during an average week. And those gifts are 57 percent larger.

We hope that you will consider Peoples' Self-Help Housing in your year end charitable giving plans as well. Peoples' has a convenient on-line donation system for you to access 24/7. Thank you letters acknowledging your gift will be mailed immediately after your online gift is made. Your generous donation will make a difference in lives of people who are coming out of homelessness, have health issues that prevent them from working, and families who need a safe roof over their heads.

If you need assistance with making a major gift or a gift of stock or real property, the PSHH Development office is open and available to assist you during this last week of 2009. Please call PSHH Development Director Rochelle Rose at (805) 962-5152 x227 or email rocheller@pshhc.org. Thank you for your kind consideration. 

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Santa "Stuffs the Bus" for Peoples' Kids

Santa Claus made his 5th annual "Stuff the Bus" parade ride down State Street in Santa Barbara on December 16, 2009 from 10-10:30 a.m. collecting hundreds of unwrapped gifts for children from low-income families living at Peoples' affordable housing properties in southern Santa Barbara County. Traveling in a decorated MTD bus, escorted by the Santa Barbara Police Department, Santa stops to pick up toy and gift card collection boxes at sponsors Community West Bank, Starbuck's at State & Victoria, Barnes & Noble Bookstore, and Hotel Santa Barbara.

Santa's bus ride ended at PSHH's Ladera Apartments where 40 volunteers wrapped the toys and gift cards for 600 children. Many thanks to other sponsors supporters Nancy and Thomas Jr. Crawford, CapitalSource Bank, Santa Barbara Bank & Trust, Peikert Group Architects, Ayers Automotive Repair, B. Ray and Dianne Gateley, Penfield & Smith, Ads on the Wall, Metropolitan Transit District, and Nu Image Signs & Graphics.

"This is a challenging year for everyone, but together we made a difference raising nearly $10,000 for needy kids and our youth education program. For many of these children, these are the only gifts they received at this time of year," stated PSHH Executive Director Jeanette Duncan.

Project committee members included Sara Cooper, Kate Schwab, Lynnette Coverly, Karen Hurst, Officer Adrian Gutierrez, Deborah Tracy, Nadine Turner, and Andre Neumann. 

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El Patio Hotel in Ventura Latest PSHH Acquisition

After a couple of years of negotiation, Peoples' Self-Help Housing has closed escrow on the El Patio Hotel, a 44-unit single residency hotel in downtown Ventura. The hotel will provide much-needed housing for low-income single men and women, those transitioning from homelessness, and people with special needs, such as the mentally and physically disabled.

Originally built in the 1920s, the historic hotel will be renovated wing by wing to keep as many tenants housed as possible. A community room and kitchen will be added, as well as a resident manager's office.

Originally built in the 1920s, the historic hotel will be renovated wing by wing so as to keep as many tenants housed as possible during the transition. A community room and kitchen will be added, as well as a resident manager's office. 

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Self-Help Homes in Templeton Make Progress

The foundations are finished and the walls are going up on the first group of four homes on Terebinth Lane in Templeton. The families began building their homes in September and hope to complete them and move in next September.

Meanwhile we are completing the streets, sidewalks and underground utilities on the adjacent 29 unit subdivision. As soon as the site improvements are completed in the spring, another group of self-help families will begin building their dream homes. We are still accepting applications to build in this subdivision.

Interested low-income households may pick-up an application at our San Luis Obispo office during regular office hours. Call (805) 781-3088 x0, or stop by at 3533 Empleo Street in San Luis Obispo, for more information. 

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Youth Learn the Dangers of Gangs/Drugs

The Youth Education Enhancement Program (YEEP) hosted an anti-gang and substance abuse prevention workshop in December at Ladera Apartments in Westside Santa Barbara. According to YEEP Educator Brittany Hadidian who organized the event, "We had really good turnout--sixty parents and 31 youth participated."

Youth met with Juan Pablo R. Herrada, Health Educator from Collaborative Communities Foundation, and talked about their experiences with gangs and gang members. He really engaged the kids and discussed with them other options besides getting involved with gangs. Sofia Murillo, Bilingual Treatment Counselor from Daniel Bryant Youth & Family Treatment Center, spoke with the parents about the signs and dangers of drug and alcohol use, as well as gang involvement. Parents participated by asking questions and filling out a survey at the end of the talk.

The event was funded in part by a City of Santa Barbara CDBG Human Services grant. 

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Local Bank and Church Support

Montecito Bank and Trust recently donated $7,500 to PSHH programs, thru their Annual Community Dividends Program. Vice president Clyde W. Freeman presents the check to PSHH Development Director Rochelle Rose.

First Presbyterian Church of San Luis Obispo invited PSHH to participate on December 6th at their Alternative Gift Fair, to raise money for local PSHH programs. Efforts were rewarded with contributions totalling over $1,000.

Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church in Montecito made Christmes for our tenants in Carpinteria a wonderful experience. The congregation supplied food, bikes, toys and gifts for every household at Dahlia Court, Chapel Court and Carpinteria Camper Park. 

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Staff News

Welcome New Hires

Kathy Beckelhymer
Youth Education Substitute
Santa Maria/Guadalupe

Michel Colmache
Site Manager
El Patio Hotel
Ventura

Maritza Garza
SHP Case Manager
Santa Barbara Area

Norbert Jackson
Assistant Manager
Victoria Hotel
Santa Barbara

Edith Lopez
Site Manager
3 Properties
Santa Barbara

Minerva Nateras
Site Manager
Ladera Street Apts.
Santa Barbara

Cherin Thibault
Youth Education Substitute
Paso Robles

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