Habitat for Humanity of Southern Santa Barbara County (Habitat Santa Barbara) celebrated several major milestones on Tuesday, July 15th when they dedicated the local affiliate’s 23rd Habitat home, and broke ground on what will become their 24th and 25th homes.
Habitat’s two newest homeownership program partner families break ground on the project that will become their future homes. Photo courtesy Habitat Santa Barbara
The home dedication was in honor of a rehabilitated home and the family taking ownership of it: Rocio and her son Pablo. The home, originally built in 1921, was previously a rental unit, and thoroughly renovated and improved under the direction of local general contractor and former Habitat Santa Barbara Board member Ann Burgard. Burgard spoke about the process: “…thanks to the hard work of our team, volunteers, and most importantly Rocio herself, it’s been completely transformed into a safe, welcoming, and beautiful home.”
More than 60 people gathered in Ortega Park to celebrate the home dedication and ground breaking, within view of the homes on Cota Street: the first where Rocio and her son cut a giant blue ribbon to represent officially purchasing their home, and another where the assembled crowd gathered after the ceremony to watch the two future homeowner families grab shovels to officially break ground on the project that will soon become their forever homes…