NEWS-PRESS EXCLUSIVE: SB City Council panel backs home repair program
Very low-earnings Santa Barbara citizens could before long get aid to make essential repairs to their households.
The Santa Barbara Metropolis Council’s Finance Committee previous week unanimously endorsed the institution of a rehabilitation pilot system for low-earnings householders to function with contractors vetted by Habitat for Humanity of Southern Santa Barbara County.
Under the pilot program, up to $50,000 in grant funding from town Inclusionary Housing Reserve Money would be allotted to Habitat for Humanity to operate the application.
“This is an remarkable chance to support some of our city’s most susceptible inhabitants, many of whom are seniors on fastened incomes, make needed repairs to their residences,” Councilmember Eric Friedman, the committee’s chair, instructed the News-Push.
“This funding will be an crucial instrument to guide lower-income property owners continue to be in their properties by furnishing support for critical repairs to be certain habitability,” he said. “Even with homeownership, there are several homes that really don’t have the fiscal implies to deal with essential house improvements these as new roofs, plumbing or electric powered updates (and) rest room remodels to address physical constraints, or other common repairs.
“The funding for the system will come from growth in-lieu fees, which is an productive use of people funds as it will assist maintain inhabitants in houses that are risk-free.”
The pilot application now heads to the total council for its acceptance. It will look on the council’s consent agenda for consideration on Feb. 7, according to Laura Dubbels, the city’s housing and human providers supervisor.
The pilot system would aid reduced-income men and women, families and seniors living in the metropolis with required property repairs, accessibility modifications and getting older-in-position diversifications so they can continue being securely in their households.
Property repairs would be verified for candidates who own their home, get paid an earnings underneath 80{7e5ff73c23cd1cd7ac587f9048f78b3ced175b09520fe5fee10055eb3132dce7} of the area median revenue, reside in metropolis restrictions and demonstrate urgent need to have based on other criteria, according to staff.
Habitat employees would control the pilot program from the first software solicitations through software submissions, evaluations and skills. The personnel customers would operate instantly with home owners, contractors and subcontractors to acquire the vital scope of function, receive any expected permits and oversee the construction course of action to productive completion.
This operate will consist of payment of money to contractors and subcontractors for completed work. No funding will be paid instantly to house owners.
A a single-time investment in a dwelling repair can tremendously increase the lifetime of the home and is significantly extra price tag-successful than new development, team reported. The ordinary value of a home mend is roughly $5,000 while new design expenditures can be as large as $500/sq. foot.
“It is essential that Santa Barbara retains its existing cost-effective housing stock by way of rehabilitations that make certain decent and sustainable housing,” staff mentioned. “Safe, decent and very affordable housing results in an atmosphere of basic safety and safety for all people.
“The extensive the vast majority of authorities funding targets rental housing completely. Whilst this is significant, Santa Barbara has a vast array of inexpensive housing requires, like reduced- and very minimal-income homes who very own their house but have scarce assets for necessary repairs.”
According to Habitat Software details captured due to the fact the commencing of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020:
— Habitat’s household fix purchasers are 78 years old, on average.
— Seventy percent of households served incorporate house owners who have a disability. The regular yearly profits of homeowner repair service customers is down below $30,000 every year.
— All home owners served are at or beneath 80{7e5ff73c23cd1cd7ac587f9048f78b3ced175b09520fe5fee10055eb3132dce7} of the place median revenue for Santa Barbara County.
“Staff supports Habitat’s request to set up and run a pilot application in get to assist low-income owners with desired house repairs. Attending to restore and rehabilitation requires will be certain preservation of housing, enabling reduced-money households to continue to be in their households,” the town team said.
Habitat has operated the exact system for Santa Barbara County for the earlier 12 months “and has an superb history of supplying profitable rehabilitation initiatives that handle the requirements of numerous homes in the local community,” team explained.
“By providing a one particular-year pilot system, the town can evaluate the achievement of the software right before committing to supporting an ongoing program.”
Founded in 2000, Habitat for Humanity of Southern Santa Barbara County associates with low-revenue people today and households to establish or boost a position to simply call dwelling.
Property owners establish their residence along with volunteers and acquire their household, spending an very affordable home finance loan. Habitat has built 22 new residences for 84 people today (50 percent of whom are small children) and led initiatives to rebuild and maintenance 180 houses throughout southern Santa Barbara County.
e-mail: [email protected]