Habitat Westside plans to complete 3 homes for 2015

The Los Banos chapter of Habitat for Humanity is planning to complete one home and start building two others in the new year.

All of the homes are on the same street.

“Back in July, the Habitat family was selected for M Street,” Habitat Westside Executive Director Ashlee Williams said. “(In) 2015 we will be welcoming home two additional Habitat families. The empty lot next door will be divided up into two separate lots and two single-family homes will be built from scratch.”

Habitat Westside spent 2014 securing property and expanding the hours of its ReStore business.

The group used its third annual Women’s Build event, held Mother’s Day weekend, to ramp up efforts to construct its first home on the 500 block of M Street. The family selected was scheduled to move in weeks ago when its patriarch died, Williams said.

“Their son Doug has done great volunteering his time, but Habitat could use the help of community volunteers to finish this project by the end of January,” Williams said.

Volunteers need to hang drywall, paint, install flooring and repair the front steps before the home is livable.

Habitat families are chosen primarily by three criteria: housing need; homeowners volunteering 500 hours or having others volunteer on their behalf; and their ability to repay a mortgage.

The organization also plans to assist Los Banos homeowners with critical repairs, including roofing and window installation projects.

Habitat Westside has built or renovated about 20 homes since its inception in the 1990s.

Williams said her organization relies heavily on the support of the community.

“We couldn’t do this work without our donors and volunteers,” she said. “Donations to Habitat Westside provide vital financial support to help us build and repair houses.”

This story was originally published December 25, 2014 at 6:15 PM with the headline "Habitat Westside plans to complete 3 homes for 2015."