HABITAT FOR HUMANITY SEEKS LAND FROM PARK DISTRICT 3 SIMI HOMES TO BE BUILT.Byline: Angie Valencia Staff Writer SIMI VALLEY Simi Valley (sē`mē, sĭm`ē), city (1990 pop. 100,217), Ventura co., SW Calif. in an oil, fruit, and farm region; laid out 1887, inc. 1969. - The latest push to provide affordable housing in the city comes with a $270,000 price tag. Habitat for Humanity Habitat for Humanity, nonprofit ecumenical Christian organization that enables low-income people to own affordable, livable housing. Headquartered in Americus, Ga., it was founded in 1976 by businessman Millard Fuller and his wife. of Ventura County could break ground on three single-family homes near the southeast corner of Royal and Sequoia sequoia (sĭkwoi`ə), name for the redwood (Sequoia sempervirens) and for the big tree, or giant sequoia (Sequoiadendron giganteum), both huge, coniferous evergreen trees of the bald cypress family, and for extinct related species. avenues for very low-income households in the next couple of months if a loan agreement wins support from the City Council in March. This would be the first time the nonprofit organization Nonprofit Organization An association that is given tax-free status. Donations to a non-profit organization are often tax deductible as well. Notes: Examples of non-profit organizations are charities, hospitals and schools. - widely known for building and renovating houses - targets Simi Valley as the site to build new houses from the ground up. ``There's a huge need in Ventura County for affordable housing,'' said Karen Jensen, Habitat for Humanity of Ventura County program manager. ``There are so many people out there that can't afford simple, decent housing. Statistics show that one out of five school-age children live in substandard substandard, adj below an acceptable level of performance. housing.'' The median house price in Ventura County is $469,000, with a median household income The median household income is commonly used to provide data about geographic areas and divides households into two equal segments with the first half of households earning less than the median household income and the other half earning more. of about $74,900, Jensen said. Citing another statistic statistic, n a value or number that describes a series of quantitative observations or measures; a value calculated from a sample. statistic a numerical value calculated from a number of observations in order to summarize them. , she added that a person earning a minimum wage of $6.75 an hour would have to work 113 to 120 hours per week to afford a two-bedroom rental in Ventura County at about $1,300 a month. Mayor Bill Davis For the artist, animator, creative director, see . For the baseball player, see .
Annette Houchin, Habitat for Humanity of Ventura County executive director, said the organization has been working with city officials, as well as park district officials, on the project for about two years. Habitat for Humanity volunteers have identified 1.8 acres of land belonging to the Rancho Simi Rancho San José de Nuestra Senora de Altagarcia y Simi is one of the land grants in California by the Spanish government. The name derives from Shimiji, the name of the Chumash village here before the Spanish. Recreation and Park District on which to build, she said. The city staff has recommended purchase of the land from the park district for $120,000. Also being recommended is an additional $150,000 in subsidies for eligible buyers. Davis said that currently there are two major affordable housing projects under construction in the city. An additional six projects are in the pipeline, he said. ``It takes years to get things done and put to bed,'' he said. ``My guess is that those six projects will spread out over the next three years. We've spent millions of dollars over the past years in affordable housing.'' The last hoop for the organization to jump is City Council approval of the loan and, ultimately, transfer of the land. ``The loan agreement says that we'll build affordable homes with a 45- year restriction,'' Houchin said. ``If the house is resold during that time period, it has to be sold to another low-income family.'' The $270,000 loan would be divided by three selected homeowners. City officials require that the homeowners be existing Simi Valley residents, Houchin said. The family selection could begin in the next couple of months. Construction is expected to take six to eight months. Jensen said the three houses will cost about $85,000 each. One of the requirements is that applicants come from very-low-income households, earning about 30 percent to 50 percent of median income. The maximum income a family can make is $35,000 a year. Homeowners are also obligated ob·li·gate tr.v. ob·li·gat·ed, ob·li·gat·ing, ob·li·gates 1. To bind, compel, or constrain by a social, legal, or moral tie. See Synonyms at force. 2. To cause to be grateful or indebted; oblige. to complete 500 hours of ``sweat equity'' work on the home, attend workshops on credit and home maintenance, and must be able to pay back the 20- to 30-year mortgage. Habitat for Humanity of Ventura County has a mailing list An automated e-mail system on the Internet, which is maintained by subject matter. There are thousands of such lists that reach millions of individuals and businesses. New users generally subscribe by sending an e-mail with the word "subscribe" in it and subsequently receive all new of more than 1,600 applicants. Founded in 1983, it is the oldest Habitat affiliate in California. The first land donation was made in 1993. The organization has built 31 homes in Ventura County since then. Altogether, 500 homes have been 'rehabbed' in Ventura County. Angie Valencia, (805) 583-7604 angie.valencia(at)dailynews.com CAPTION(S): 2 photos Photo: (1 -- color) Karen Jensen, program manager for Habitat for Humanity of Ventura County, stands at Sequoia and Royal avenues, where Habitat wants to build three homes. (2) Karen Jensen, program manager for Habitat for Humanity of Ventura County, walks through the Simi Valley property on which the organization plans to build. Michael Owen
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