A donation of city land has opened the door for Habitat for Humanity, the nonprofit organization that has constructed more than 300,000 houses around the world, to build its first homes in Sonoma.
The Sonoma City Council voted April 1 to donate the lot at 650 West Spain Street, land previously designated for affordable housing, to HFH Sonoma County.
“This furthers our need to provide affordable housing, and to keep city involvement to minimum,” council member Steve Barbose told The Sun last week. “There will be no additional cost to the city.”
When last appraised, which was before the economic downturn, the property was valued at $230,000, according to Barbose. His resolution included approving the sale of adjacent land with frontage on Fifth Street West.
Barbose felt that the smaller West Spain property was unlikely to find a buyer/developer that could adhere to the city’s affordable housing policy. Then came the idea of partnering with HFH, the 14th largest homebuilder in the U.S. “I’ve been impressed by what Habitat has done in other communities,” he said. “It would be great if they could do something here.”
The good news comes as HFH-SC, the first independent affiliate in California, celebrates its 25th anniversary this month.
“We’re honored to be considered in Sonoma,” Dianne Estrin, HFH-SC executive director. Particularly, she said, because Sonoma is the hometown of chapter founder George Percival. The Habitat mission calls for building simple, decent, affordable housing in partnership with people in need.
Before taking formal ownership, Estrin said, her team will do a site survey to make sure the property meets organization criteria. “We’ve got to be realistic – will we be able to build there? Will a family thrive there?” Estrin asks. “Is there access to transportation, shopping and other services?”
Her team includes a civil engineer and an architect – both, thankfully for the bottom line, volunteers. The typical Habitat project is characterized by a swarm of volunteers driving nails and putting up walls. While the help of volunteers at the photo-op stage is critical, there’s much more to getting the building designed, approved and built.
“What we can’t get donated, we have to purchase,” Estrin said, including the cost-heavy infrastructure. Habitat is a green builder. “It’s good for the environment and it’s good for long term economy; lower PG&E bills for example.”
The family chosen off a waiting list to buy the house and, according to HFH rules, gives 500 hours of “sweat equity” to its construction and will be named before work begins. Estrin related that HFH’s “family partners” must be working families with an household income totaling 30-60 percent of the median income for the area and that the mortgage payment can’t be more than 30 percent of income. Often, Estrin said, the new Habitat home allows families to escape overcrowded and even unsafe conditions.
Habitat houses are sold to partner families at no profit and financed with affordable loans. The homeowners’ monthly mortgage payments are used to fund new Habitat projects. Foreclosure rates for HFH homes around the country, Estrin noted, are lower than the national average.
“We’re really looking forward to our first Sonoma house,” Estrin said, “as people come together for a common good.”
HFH-SC will celebrate its 25th anniversary on Saturday, April 25 at the First Congregational United Church of Christ in Santa Rosa. The free event, which honors George Percival and includes a potluck lunch and birthday cake, will take place from noon to 5 p.m.
