BREA : Habitat to Build Low-Income Units

Habitat for Humanity, the nonprofit Christian organization that drew former President Jimmy Carter to Rancho Santa Margarita to help build a condominium project, has been granted exclusive rights to negotiate a building plan for 12 city-owned lots in Brea.

The City Council voted unanimously last week to negotiate an agreement with the nonprofit group to build housing for low-income families.

According to Joseph Perring, board president of the Orange County chapter, the organization is proposing to build three-unit buildings on each of the 12 lots, which are at various locations in the city.

Habitat for Humanity develops its projects using mostly donated materials, free labor and the “sweat equity” of those permitted to purchase the units. Buyers are required to spend at least 1,000 hours working on the organization’s building projects, with half of the hours devoted to their own home and the rest to other Habitat works.

The units are sold for about half of what comparable housing costs and carry interest-free, 20-year mortgages.

Councilwoman Clarice A. Blamer praised Habitat’s commitment to providing affordable housing and called the group an “answer to our prayers.”

The council action was the first step in a process that will include developing a specific agreement detailing the land purchase and establishing guidelines for selecting buyers for the units, as well as general building guidelines.

As proposed, each building will consist of a one-story, two-bedroom unit and two two-story, three-bedroom units. Square footage will range from 850 to 1,150.

According to Perring, families will be eligible only if their combined income does not exceed 50% of the median income for Orange County. “The range in income will be about $12,000 to $24,000,” he said.