The lack of affordable housing in San Benito County has become a
thorny issue, with the influx of commuters making us a bedroom
community, plus house prices rising everywhere, a moratorium on
building within Hollister city limits, and a sense of
disillusionment about business-as-usual with big developers.
The lack of affordable housing in San Benito County has become a thorny issue, with the influx of commuters making us a bedroom community, plus house prices rising everywhere, a moratorium on building within Hollister city limits, and a sense of disillusionment about business-as-usual with big developers.
Now somebody’s doing something about it.
Sparked by an idea from Cynthia Holthouse, a mortgage specialist, Habitat for Humanity has come to SBC.
Habitat for Humanity is one of those ideas that works because ordinary people can help by doing what they know how to do anyway. Former President Jimmy Carter and Rosalynn Carter have helped publicize it by participating, but anybody can pitch in: pick up a hammer and drive nails. Run a table saw. Wield a paint brush. Side by side with the potential homeowner, nail by nail and board by board, the house goes up, making a huge difference in a family’s life.
Before the first board is sawn, there is, of course, bureaucracy. A building site must be secured, or perhaps a rehab project must be defined. Permits must be pulled. Supplies, volunteers and a schedule must be organized. To get started, Habitat for Humanity has organized its first fund-raiser.
You may have seen the posters: the Harvest Ride this Saturday will provide 50 or so riders and their horses the chance to ride around in our beautiful hills for a few hours, then get fed a picnic lunch provided by Running Rooster.
After lunch and the ride back down the hill, the riders will meet and be joined by about 70 more diners at San Juan Oaks to swap lies over no-host cocktails and dinner. It would be worth attending just to eavesdrop. Imagine the excuses some of the infrequent riders will cook up to explain why they can hardly walk. Dinner will be followed by a silent and live auction for dozens of items donated by generous local businesses.
According to Habitat president George Lewis, community support for the organization has been excellent, and continues to grow. Lots of people volunteered at Habitat’s booth at the County Fair; both local papers have provided free publicity; Pietra Santa winery’s new owners donated wine for the dinner, and other sponsors have donated enough that the fees collected for the ride and dinner should all become the organization’s nest egg.
By the time you read this, it will be too late to sign up. But if you’re interested in Habitat’s work, or want to volunteer, give them a call at 801-6341. While the “big” problems – waste water treatment which impacts the sewage treatment program which impacts the housing moratorium, or the county housing cap, or DMB’s potential new community off the Bols – can seem overwhelming, here is a way each of us can start to make a difference.
