Nonprofit Group to Build 3 Homes in Simi Valley

Habitat for Humanity of Ventura County has scheduled two workshops in Simi Valley next week, the first step in qualifying three families for new homes.

Construction will begin later this year on a 1.25-acre parcel of land donated by the city at Royal and Sequoia avenues.

The three-bedroom homes will be built by volunteers along with the chosen new homeowners, who must put in up to 500 hours of work on the house, which the organization calls “sweat equity.”

“Our mission is to build simple, decent homes. We want to blend into the community,” said Karen Jensen, a local program manager for the national nonprofit housing organization.

“This is the first time we’ve built a home in Simi, though we’ve done a lot of repairs there.”

City Manager Mike Sedell said the community was pleased to help.

“Habitat has been looking for some time for a parcel that they could reasonably develop and provide an affordable product,” he said.

“The city has always respected this organization for the job they do, and we welcome their entry into Simi Valley.”

Only legal residents who live in Simi Valley or whose jobs are in the city are eligible for the homes.

Applicants also must have household incomes between about 30% and 50% of the county’s median income of $79,500, and a family of four must be able to pay a monthly mortgage between $600 and $850.

Applicants must currently live in overcrowded or substandard housing, such as dwellings with structural damage, bad plumbing or poor electrical wiring.

Those attending the orientation are asked to bring Social Security numbers for each family member, last year’s W-2 forms for those 18 and older, and information about all sources of income, including alimony, child support or disability payments.

The one-hour meetings will be held Wednesday at 7 p.m. and June 10 at noon at Cornerstone Community Church, 2080 Winifred St., Simi Valley. After the meeting, those interested can fill out pre-screening forms.

Habitat has built 37 homes in Camarillo, Fillmore, Piru, Santa Paula and Thousand Oaks and is finishing four in Oxnard. The organization also has repaired more than 500 homes countywide, Jensen said.

For each two- to four-bedroom home it builds in Ventura County, Habitat needs more than $100,000 in materials.

Jensen said the latest project already has several large sponsors lined up, including Starbucks, Cardservice International, the Simi Valley-Moorpark Assn. of Realtors and the Conejo Valley Interfaith Coalition.

For further information, call Habitat for Humanity at (805) 485-6065.