Peoples' Self-Help Housing

Greetings! Thank you for your ongoing support of our programs and services. We are excited about our new E-Newsletter and hope you find it informative and useful.

Peoples' Self-Help Housing E-Newsletter

Woman's Fund Santa Barbara Awards $50,000 to PSHH Education Program
Casas las Granadas Opens in Santa Barbara
Newest Youth Program in Paso Robles
Volunteer! It Feels Good!

Woman's Fund Santa Barbara Awards $50,000 to PSHH Education Program

left-right: B. Ray Gately, Michael Towbes, Jeanette Duncan, Jane Honikman (from the Women's Fund), Geoffrey Phillips, M.D., and Rev. Donald Carey

People's Self Help Housing was awarded $50,000 to help with the educator salary at the Carpinteria Camper Park Youth Education Enhancement Program (YEEP). YEEP serves school age children from 70 very low income families in Carpinteria now in temporary housing.

The Woman's Fund Luncheon is always an intriguing event. Without a board of directors, grant application forms, or much fanfare, The Women's Fund of Santa Barbara has quietly donated $1.4 dollars to local non-profit agencies during its short, four-year history.

This year at its fourth annual Presentation of Awards, the Woman's Fund, in partnership with the Santa Barbara Foundation, gave away$600,000 for vital needs affecting women, children and families on the South Coast.

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Casas las Granadas Grand Opening

Michael is physically disabled. He uses a motorized wheelchair and works downtown Santa Barbara for the Independent Living Resource Center. Michael was nearly facing homelessness. Thanks to Peoples' Self-Help Housing Michael will now live just six blocks away from his job, and will be able to motor to work every day in his wheelchair. Until Casas las Granadas became available, Michael had been unable to find wheel-chair accessible housing.

On February 29, new tenants like Michael, along with 125 government officials and PSHH supporters attended the Grand Opening.

PSHH celebrates opening of Casas Las Granadas in downtown Santa Barbara

"Casas las Granadas demonstrates that affordable housing for low-income households on the Central Coast is not an elusive dream but a viable reality," said Jeanette Duncan, Executive Director of Peoples' Self-Help Housing. "We cannot thank our donors, development and funding partners enough for their hard work, dedication and perseverance."

The complex is comprised of 12 new, permanently affordable one-bedroom rental units set aside for "downtown workers", especially those who do not have a car for their transportation needs. The apartments range from 485 to 575 square feet and are conveniently located at 21 E. Anapamu, across from the SB Public Library and within walking distance to public transportation. Casas las Granadas was designed to complement the downtown streetscape by featuring Spanish-style architectural elements.

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Canyon Creek in Paso Robles Newest YEEP Site!

Librarian Kris Bell reads to the children in the YEEP center

The Canyon Creek Youth Education Enhancement Program (YEEP), which opened in 2007, is PSHH's sixth and newest year-round after-school education program and, currently, the only YEEP site in San Luis Obispo County.

Emily Weatherby, our bi-lingual educator, received her Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies from Westmont College and holds a teaching credential from the University of La Verne.

YEEP at Canyon Creek serves 75 kindergarten-12th grade students who live at the PSHH complex and in the surrounding community. In addition to daily homework help and individualized curriculum, YEEP offers educational activities in the arts, science, nutrition and physical education. Recent activities include monthly fieldtrips to the library, financial education classes, and healthy cooking classes.

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Volunteer! It Feels Good!

A group of Crane School math students, under the supervision of teacher Tim Smith, spent a morning at nearby Ladera Apartments and Carpinteria Camper Park. The boys spent a morning volunteering with painting, weeding, and cleanup of the education centers.

There are many volunteer opportunities at Peoples' Self-Help Housing-at our many residential sites or our corporate offices in Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo. Use your skills to help children with homework, clerical duties and data entry, special events, fundraising, property cleanup, and much more. Contact the property manager or the SLO or SB offices.

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Thank you for your ongoing support!
Sincerely,

Editors Annette Montoya and Rochelle Rose, CFRE
Peoples' Self-Help Housing

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