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.

Please share this November 2011 newsletter with your family, friends and business associates!

Peoples' Self-Help Housing E-Newsletter

You're Invited! Groundbreaking in Pismo Beach Volunteers Install Solar Energy System Lights On Celebrates After School Education Year-End Giving Options at PSHH Upcoming Workshops and Events Resident Work Party Staff Additions

Thanksgiving is coming! We are thankful for you!

Join us at the Groundbreaking of Pismo Creek Bungalows
November 15, 2011

Pismo Creek Bungalows, a 14-unit multi-family development, will be the first newly constructed affordable rental complex in the City of Pismo Beach. Peoples' Self-Help Housing is the general partner and nonprofit developer of the complex which will consist of five buildings, including a community room, kitchen, laundry facility, and meeting space. Four one-bedroom, five two-bedroom, and five three-bedroom units are planned.

The public is invited to the Groundbreaking Ceremony on Tuesday, November 15 at 11:00 a.m. at 360 Park Avenue in Pismo Beach. A light buffet lunch catered by Alphie's Adobe will be provided after the ceremony. Parking is limited; carpooling is encouraged.

Estimated to be completed by October 2012, Peoples' Self-Housing is acting as general contractor under the supervision of Bill Loar, Peoples' Construction Manager. Project architecture and engineering is by RRM Design Group. Financing is provided by California Tax Credit Allocation Committee, City of Pismo Beach, Pismo Beach Redevelopment Agency, Merritt Community Capital Corporation, and Wells Fargo Bank.  

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Volunteers Install Solar Energy System for 8 Homes in Nipomo

Over 130 people participated in the Solarthon event at the site of Peoples'self-help homes under construction in Templeon. Volunteers included homeowners, community members, corporate sponsors and job trainees. "Each person had a job to do and did it. When the volunteers came down from the roofs at lunch time, it was a time for sharing and re-energizing!By 3:30 in the afternoon, all eight systems were installed and powered," stated Sheryl Flores,PSHH Housing Development Director-Homeownership.

The new solar energy systems will help these low-income families lower their electric bills. This was the first Solarthon on the Central Coast by GRID Alternatives, a non-profit solar installer. The solar panels will save an estimated $171,000 over the next 30 years for these families. "The savings are really good, but also we're helping the environment which is a plus," said homeowner Consuelo Botello.

Low-income families have been building these homes for more than a year and do about 65% of the work on their own. They are expected to move into their new homes by the end of this year. Thank you to event sponsors: PG&E, First Solar, Sun Power, Rec Solar, Yingli Solar, Wallace Group Engineers, and Holland & Knapp Construction.  

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Lights On Celebrates After School Education

Kayleen and Jazmin enjoyed the face painting

Hundreds of children, parents, business and community leaders came together in October for the 12th Annual Lights On Afterschool rallies at Peoples' seven Youth Education Centers to celebrate the achievements of afterschool students and to highlight the need for afterschool programs to serve children who are unsupervised and at risk each weekday afternoon. Our gatherings were part of 7,500 such events across the nation emphasizing the importance of keeping the lights on for afterschool programs

"It is a powerful reminder that afterschool programs keep children safe, inspire them to learn, and relieve low-income working parents of concerns about how their children spend their afternoons," stated Hillary Colvin, YEEP Educator Guadalupe. Some of Peoples' Lights On activities included:

Riverview-Guadalupe Lights On featured 40 students displaying what they are learning, making, and doing, plus coordinated dances led by the students.

Paso Robles Mayor Duane Picanco with YEEP students Leslie, Adeline, and Brenda

Many parents and visitors attended Canyon Creek-Paso Robles hosted an open house where students did science experiments with bubbles. Families, principals, staff, school board members, teachers, donors and partners attended.

Los Adobes de Maria 2 in Santa Maria open house featured tours of student centers: CSI science, junior high math versi-tiles, senior math center stage fraction, and art. Thank you for your support of youth afterschool education at PSHH!  

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Year-End giving Options at PSHH

We at Peoples' Self-Help Housing are especially grateful for your support during these uncertain economic times. The wonderful communities that we serve continue to respond with philanthropy that assists us in providing affordable housing and supportive social services that foster greater economic self-sufficiency in our low-income residents. As a donor and as a supporter, you have directly contributed to the successful growth of our organization over the past 40 years.

An option for making a contribution this year is donation of stock. Even in this economy, some stocks may have appreciated in value. Which ones have appreciated the most? It may be prudent for you to make your year-end gift using one or more of these stocks. Here's why: If you sold the stock, you would incur capital gains tax on the appreciation. However, if you give the stock and allow Peoples' to sell it, no one pays tax. You get a charitable deduction for the full amount of the stock, just as you would if your gift was made with cash.

And what's more, if you can't use all of the income tax charitable deduction resulting from the gift, you can carry it forward for up to an additional five years. Such gifts are deductible up to 30 percent of your adjusted gross income. Please watch for our year end campaign letter in the mail or make a secure donation on-line at www.pshhc.org/howtodonate. Rochelle Rose CFRE, Fund Development Director (805) 962-5152 x227 or rocheller@pshhc.org.

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Upcoming Workshops

Foreclosure Prevention Workshop
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
6:00 p.m.
400 Oak Hill Road
Canyon Creek Apartments
Paso Robles

First Time Home Buyer Workshop
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
6:00 p.m.
Creekside Gardens
401 Oak Hill Road
Paso Robles
  

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Upcoming Special Events

Stuff the Bus Holiday Gift Drive
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
10:00 am
Join Santa on the MTD bus collecting toys for our kids!
State & Micheltorena Streets
Santa Barbara

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Staff Additions

Judith Cooper
Youth Educator, Ladera Apts.,
Santa Barbara

Elizabeth Cortes Preciado
Youth Educator Substitute
Santa Maria/Guadalupe

Alfredo Garcia Guerrero
Asst. Construction Supervisor. Temporary
Self Help Home Development
Templeton

Brad Nay
Construction Supervisor
Self-Help Home Development Nipomo

Brad Nay

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Resident Work Party Beautifies Isla Vista Apartments

Residents Araceli and Marlo volunteered to beautify their apartments

The residents of the 56-unit community of Isla Vista Apartments in Goleta had their own "Day of Caring" to make exterior improvements to their complex. Organized by property manager Mireya Royas, nearly 30 residents spent a day painting metal fences and installing new landscaping. It was a great day and a festive lunch was celebrated by all.  

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