Habitat Comes to Marin
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MCF Program Officer Kathleen Harris presents the keys to the Garza Family / photo by Fred Silverman
It may have taken years—about 15—but Habitat for Humanity has dedicated its first home in Marin. With $125,000 in funding from the Marin Community Foundation, Habitat for Humanity Greater San Francisco purchased a home in foreclosure and with help from nearly 400 volunteers, completely renovated it.
The Novato home’s new residents are Miguel and Alejandra Garza and their three children. They were selected after a comprehensive screening process. And since then, the Garzas have completed a homeowner training program with classes on subjects such as home finance, maintenance, and conflict resolution. They are also receiving a zero-down, zero-interest loan on their single-story home.
At the dedication ceremony in June 2010, MCF President Thomas Peters said to community leaders, volunteers, and elected offices, "We've waited for this day for a long, long time. This is a special moment for the community of Novato and for Marin. To every one of you who participated with your labor and love, keep it up. We've got more projects ahead and more work to do."
This effort was part of Habitat’s Neighborhood Revitalization Program (NRP), designed to help stabilize areas that are at serious risk of decline due to a glut of abandoned, blighted homes in the community.
And it was done under MCF’s Strategic Initiative to develop more affordable housing for low-income residents in Marin—a goal that also includes the building of new rental units and helping ensure that local policies are favorable toward the development of affordable housing.
For more information on MCF’s efforts to develop affordable housing, click here.
(Pictured above: MCF Program Officer Kathleen Harris hands over the keys to the Garza family during the dedication ceremony)
