Solano Napa Habitat For Humanity

For almost 20 years, Solano Napa Habitat for Humanity has been assisting families with homeownership through the help of the community.

An independent affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International, Solano Napa Habitat began as a grass roots organization working to build sustainable and affordable homes for the community. Together, the organization is responsible for building 400,000 homes in 90 countries, and it's housed in Suisun City on Railroad Avenue.

A “nonprofit, ecumenical, Christian organization,” Solano Napa Habitat depends on the donations of time, money and materials, as well as local and state grants, for its projects. Families are required to volunteer 500 hours of their time and attend classes on homeownership so that they are better equipped with the knowledge of how to maintain their home.

Once their home is ready to move in, Habitat, which usually obtains the property for lower than market value, sells the home to the family “at cost,” or for the same amount the organization put into the property. Mortgage payments are then used to fund future Habitat projects.

“We do both rehabs and new builds,” said Kathy Beistel, committee chair for Public Relations. “We actually have a pretty big project going on in Vallejo right now that’s a rehab project.”

The rehabilitation project, also called the Neighborhood Stabilization Project, began after the City of Vallejo purchased foreclosed homes and sold them to Habitat to develop the properties. The project, which is now in its first phase, includes four homes in all, two of which have already sold. The second phase of the project will be released as early as Spring, when Habitat is hoping it will be approved.

The project is just one of many Solano Napa Habitat is working on. In Fairfield, they hope to break ground on another project that includes rehabilitating three homes. Beistel said volunteers hoping to contribute to projects need not have any experience building homes.

“Habitat isn’t all about hammer and nails,” she said. “There are other committees. There’s Church Relations, which is working with different church organizations. There’s Public Relations and Development.”

Development works in building relations with different businesses in the community to raise money. The committee also comes up with and puts on fundraising events. There is also a family services committee which conducts the interview process for families to decide what families have the most need. After a family moves into their home, Family Relations offers support for families and addresses concerns for the duration of the time the family owns the home. Other committees include a Site Selection Committee and a Volunteer Committee.

Beistel said the best way to get involved is to call the offices of Solano Napa Habitat first. On Saturday, Solano Napa Habitat will be hosting , an orientation and informational session where would be volunteers can learn more and sign up for various programs. Beistel also said the website is a resource people can use to get in touch with committee chairpersons if they would like more specific information about a particular committee.

Solano Napa Habitat for Humanity is located at 110 Railroad Ave., Suite E.