Community Celebrates First Habitat Home in Marin

With scores of community well-wishers looking on, Miguel and Alejandra Garza became the first Habitat for Humanity homeowners in Marin County following more than 15 years of efforts to bring Habitat's affordable housing program to the region.

"Finally being able to provide a home for my family is a dream come true for me," said Miguel after receiving the keys to his Novato home on Father's Day weekend. "This is a wonderful opportunity for me and my family. It has been a tremendous journey, an opportunity to meet so many people and has given us a great sense of community," he said.

Nearly 400 local volunteers helped rebuild the home, which was in foreclosure and acquired by Habitat last fall as part of its Neighborhood Revitalization Program (NRP), including groups from Autodesk, Wells Fargo, Bank of Marin, Coldwell Banker, Westminster Presbyterian Church, Tamalpais High School, Sir Francis Drake High School, Marin Builders Association, St. Raphael Church, and the St. Vincent de Paul Society. In total, volunteers contributed nearly 4,000 hours to the effort, laboring alongside the Garzas as they worked to complete their sweat equity requirement under the homeownership program.

"It was surprising to see how many people it takes to build a house," said Casey Falvey, Center for Volunteer and Non-Profit Leadership, which organized 211 construction volunteers for the Habitat home. "It took a lot of nails, and it took a lot of determination," Falvey said. "Volunteering on the site always meant the opportunity to meet new people. There was a sense of community buzzing around here."

The NRP program is designed to help stabilize areas that are at serious risk of decline due to a glut of abandoned, blighted homes in the community. The program was made possible through a public-private partnership, including $62,500 in funding from the city of Novato, as well as additional private donations from the community. Habitat also received a grant from the Marin Community Foundation as part of its five-year, $10 million affordable housing plan and the leadership of Dr. Thomas Peters, president and CEO of MCF. "Dr Peters has been a tireless champion for affordable housing in Marin County," said Phillip Kilbridge, Executive Director of Habitat Greater San Francisco.

"We've waited for this day for a long, long time," said Peters. "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," he said. "We've got more projects ahead and more work to do."