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 September 2011 newsletter with your family, friends and business associates!

Peoples' Self-Help Housing E-Newsletter

Wells Fargo Donates $50,000 to PSHH 450 Backpacks Donated to Needy Students Resident Success Thanks to Supportive Services Time to Renew Your Ralph's Card Upcoming Seminars Upcoming Special Events Staff Additions Self-Help Home Update

Thank you note written by children at Isla Vista Apartments for their new school backpacks donated by the Montecito Four (M4) churches. See story below.

Wells Fargo Donates $50,000 to PSHH

Peoples' Self-Help Housing (PSHH) was the happy recipient of a $50,000 donation check from Wells Fargo Foundation who visited the Santa Barbara office to make the presentation. Pictured are PSHH board member Ray Gateley, Wells Fargo Community Development Officer Geri Yang, San Luis Obispo District Manager Mark Corella, Community Development Officer Oscar Cabello,Peoples' Executive Director Jeanette Duncan, Store Manager Santa Barbara Main Branch Marco Meza, Wells Fargo Community Affairs Representative/Central California Region Sandy Cha, and PSHH Development Director Rochelle Rose.

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450 Backpacks Donated to Needy Students

Bollo and twins Sandra and Alejandra are thankful for their new school backpacks.

Four Montecito Churches, First Presbyterian Church of San Luis Obispo, and UCSB Professional Women's Association helped to provide 450 backpacks filled with school supplies for Peoples' low-income children.

Over 125 members from the "Community of Montecito Churches" (M4) including All Saints by the Sea Episcopal Church, El Montecito Presbyterian Church, Montecito Covenant Church, and Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church, assembled 350 backpacks and school supplies. $20,000 was donated by the four churches and their parishioners for the project.

Volunteers and staff help load student backpacks for distribution.

"The leadership and parishioners are truly grateful for this oppor-tunity to serve these local children and help guarantee that they have the tools necessary to thrive in their school environments," said Montecito Covenant Church Senior Pastor Don Johnson. For information on the Backpack Project, contact Rochelle Rose at PSSH (805) 962-5152 x227 or visit www.pshhc.org to donate.  

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Resident Success Thanks to Supportive Services

PSHH social worker Brittany Carraway has been providing supportive housing services to Gar who lives at one of our senior properties. Gar is one of the most pleasant and good natured individuals you could ever meet. Unfortunately, he has a diagnosis of severe dementia. Before he stopped driving, there were instances where he got lost on his way home.

Concerned for his safety, his social worker linked Gar with Project Lifesaver, a program that provides a transmitter bracelet that can be tracked to his location. To increase socialization, Brittany signed up Gar for social activities at an adult day care center where he is able to share with others and participate in activities he enjoys. Gar is able to live happily and independently at home with this support.  

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Time to Renew Your Ralph's Card

Participation for the new term of the Ralphs Community Contribution Program begins September 1. A percentage of your purchases benefits Peoples! There is no pre-registration; this means that you cannot register for the new term until September 1, 2011 or after.

All members who are currently enrolled in the Ralphs Community Contribution Program will remain active until August 31, 2011. Participants need to register or pre-register for the new term at www.Ralphs.comor by using the scanbar letter at the register starting September 1, 2011. Thank you!

Volunteers from Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church in Santa Barbara
assist Templeton self-help home construction.

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Upcoming Seminars

Foreclosure Prevention Free Seminar
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
6:00 p.m.
River View Townhomes
230 Calle Cesar Chavez
Guadalupe

Wednesday, September 28, 2011
6:00 p.m.
Rabobank
6950 El Camino Real
Atascadero
  

PSHH now offers a
Homebuyer Education Course
on-line in English or Spanish.
Enroll at www.ehomeamerica.org/pshhc

For more information please call (805) 781-3088 x478. 

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Upcoming Special Events

No. County Home Garden and Gourmet Expo
PSHH Wine Tasting
Saturday, September 10
10 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Sunday September 11
10 a.m. to 1:00 p.m
Paso Robles Event Center

United Way Day of Caring
Saturday, Sept 17-10 a.m.
Isla Vista Apartments
Painting and cleanup

Paso Robles Fun Run
Sunday, September 25
Paso Robles City Park
Sponsor: Heritage Oaks Bank

Lights On After School Celebrations
Thurs. October 20 - 5 p.m.
All PSHH Youth Education Centers:
Paso Robles, Guadalupe, Santa Maria, Lompoc, Santa Barbara, Carpinteria

Stuff the Bus
Holiday Gift Drive
Dec. 14, 2011 - 10 a.m.
Ride with Santa down
State Street, Santa Barbara

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Staff Additions

Merilyn Ackerman
Keyholder
Oceanside Gardens Morro Bay

Anita Baumgardner
Youth Educator
College Park Apts. Lompoc

Hipolito (Poly) Echevarria
Maintenance
North County

Armando Gutierrez
Maintenance
Santa Maria

Maria (Grace) Ramos
Property Manager
College Park Apts. Lompoc

Pamela Schlotterbeck
Para-educator after-school
Canyon Creek Learning Ctr.
Paso Robles

 

Svetlana Guzatulina
Youth Educator

Svetlana joined Carpinteria YEEP at the Chapel Courts Apartments Learning Center. She previously worked as a teacher's aide and music teacher at St. John of Damascus Academy in Goleta. She has also worked as a church choirmaster and plays piano and other instruments. A graduate of a university in Russia, Svetlana speaks fluent Russian and has completed early childhood education courses at Santa Barbara City College. Welcome Svetlana!

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Self-Help Home Update

PSHHC hired a new Construction Supervisor, Toby Bellocchi. Toby has extensive residential construction and development experience. He will supervise Terebinth Lane Group 2, which is nearing completion of their homes. Staffer Phil McClintock will be starting a new self-help builder group in Oak Leaf Homes in Nipomo.

Liz Lopez-Bynes completed a five day course Homebuyer Education Methods at the NeighborWorks Training Institute held earlier this month.

PSHHC is now accepting pre-applications to build self-help Atascadero and Nipomo. The pre-application packages are available on our website www.pshhc.org/programs-home-ownership.html or at our SLO office, 3533 Empleo Street.

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