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.

Greetings! Enjoy the June issue of our E-newsletter. We look forward to share updates with you every month. Thank you for your ongoing support!

Peoples' Self-Help Housing E-Newsletter

Supportive Housing Program Helps Hungry Senior Residents
Americorps Tutors Help PSHH Youth Education
Update on Avila Beach Affordable Project
Upcoming Event:  Taste of Hope

Supportive Housing Program Helps Hungry Senior Residents

Joan Lawrence, MSW, ASW, one of Peoples' social workers, found a way to help senior and young disabled residents who were going hungry. "Seniors on limited incomes also have trouble staying fed; I found seniors going to homeless kitchens to get meals. Also, previously homeless people have trouble maintaining their finances and learning how to budget, so they were running out of money to buy food."

Because of this need, Lawrence organized a food drop off in PSHH senior complexes in San Luis Obispo County. The Food Bank packs up an order that Joan prepares based on our number of seniors. Twice a week the food is dropped off and resident volunteers divide it up into equal portions to be distributed. "If a senior is home-bound, I deliver the food to their apartment. The food includes seasonal fruit and vegetables, bread, crackers, canned goods, and sometimes protein like tuna or ravioli."

"I monitor the sites and get to know the residents. This twice-weekly food program has made a positive difference in the lives of our senior and disabled residents," said Lawrence. 

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Americorps Tutors Help PSHH Youth Education

Six Americorps volunteers, Lili Sinclaire, Korby Sinclaire, Martha Castillo, Artes Chamberlin, Steve Blevins, and Peg Robinson, recently completed their nine-month commitment at PSHH youth education centers. The volunteers are well-trained in literacy and most have previous teaching experience.

PSHH is grateful for the months of service from Americorps, and we are already working with the Santa Barbara County Education office to sign up new Americorps volunteers for the fall. Over the past school year we have seen improvements in literacy and reading comprehension among many of our children. Because the volunteers work with the same children every day, Americorps tutors build strong relationships and provide a positive adult role model for the kids.

Americorps celebrated the graduation of their Santa Barbara county members with a dinner event at Moby Dick's Restaurant in Santa Barbara. 

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Update on Avila Beach Affordable Project

Twenty-nine affordable apartments are nearing completion at PSHH's Avila Beach project "Lachen Tara". "The project is 70% completed, and we are now finishing the drywall, interior finishes, and underground work," said Sheryl Flores, PSHH Housing Development Director. "We look forward to a grand opening in October. The local community was very active in the planning for this development and in the selection of the bright exterior primary colors-red, yellow, sky blue, and moss green."

Applications for this housing will be available in July. Preference will be given to those originally displaced by the Unocal clean-up and people who currently live or work in Avila Beach. Maximum incomes will apply. Applicants must have good credit and landlord references 

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Upcoming Event:

Taste of Hope
Saturday, July 26th

The agricultural bounty of California's Central Coast is being shared with PSHH
Saturday, July 26, from 2:00-5:00 pm
at the wine tasting rooms of Michael Grace and McKeon-Phillips
2115 South Blosser Road in Santa Maria.

Call (805) 781-3088 x457 to purchase tickets or to donate silent auction items.

Michael Grace Winery will release new Sauvignon Blanc, Rose and Viognier! Only 25 cases are available of each.

Taste of Hope Sponsors to Date:

Landmark Landscape Company

Precision Concrete

 

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