The home makeover wasn’t quite as lavish as what you might see on primetime TV, but a bungalow on Boulevard Court in Novato underwent a transformation from almost unlivable to quite inviting over the past few months. The key ingredient? Sweat equity.
Although their last names were not released for privacy concerns, the families — Alexandr, Yelena and their college-age daughter, plus Heather, Hector and their 12-year-old daughter — beamed with pride at becoming homeowners through Habitat for Humanity. The latter family is moving into a new home in Ignacio.
Alexandr, who speaks Russian and very little English, was asked what it means to be the recipient of a Habitat for Humanity home near downtown Novato, and all he could do was break into huge smile, raise his hands above his head and say bolshoi spaciba, or big thanks.
In fact, two families were given keys to their new homes at a Habitat for Humanity ceremony Tuesday in Novato. They thanked the Habitat for Humanity staff, civic leaders, volunteers and neighbors for making the home purchases possible.
Novato Mayor Madeline Kellner and Marin County Supervisors Judy Arnold and Susan Adams were among the officials who welcomed Alexandr and his family to the neighborhood. Habitat's regional executive director Phillip Kilbridge welcomed the crowd and thanked the city for its contributions to the homes, which count toward regional affordable housing quotas.
Habitat’s Deven Richardson, the regional office’s director of real estate development, credited Wells Fargo, Coldwell Banker and the for allowing the purchases to happen. Father Edward Inyanwachi of made a blessing, and students from Marin Primary and Middle School presented gifts to the families.
Here is a story from the about these homes and families.
I know it's not enough but it is so much better than creating homes without a property tax base. Novato is the first Marin community to work with Habitat for Humanity. Like so much else in the affordable housing world Novato steps up to the plate to help needy families become more self sufficient. If we rush the process by building high density housing without a tax base we won't have the revenue to support services or the ability to manage the complexes themselves. In order to be in a Habitat home you have to be employed and willing to put in the sweat equity to own your own home. Hat's off to Habitat for twice again provided sustainable housing in Novato.
Ditto to what Tina said above. Well said Tina!
The three H4H homes already built in Novato may not count towards AH because they were already built, but from the video and what I read, the future ones should. What did I miss?
I don't claim to be expert, but this is what I understand about how H4H works - they go out and buy homes (in this case, county has a stake in it) that are a great deal, in despair; and they get donations for materials and require the future homeowners to work with volunteers to rehab the homes and make those very nice homes to live in. This gives the homeowners a stake in the house and be proud of what they have. They don't just give homes away, they make them earn it. To buy a new home or a remodeled home defeats the purposes of the organization. By the way, all these Affordable Housing talks in the middle of celebrating these wonderful rehabilitated homes for the proud homeowners really takes away from how great these projects are. We should be celebrating with them and congratulate both the proud homeowners and Habitat for Humanity for a job well done instead!