By Claudia Iseman
An affordable housing project in the Freedom area is turning out to be a family affair. The 13-home development, sponsored by Habitat for Humanity, aims to attract families with kids on land donated partially from the Fiorovich Family, who named the project’s main street Evan Circle, after their son Evan.
“Our mission is to help families,” says Gabby Rubio, director of program services for Habitat for Humanity Monterey Bay. Rubio led the “Dusty Boots Tour” of latest affordable housing project in Santa Cruz County, located off Airport Boulevard.
Habitat for Humanity is eager to get the word out about the opportunities to apply, volunteer and donate to the affordable housing project. Organizers will hold regular on-site tours, along with social media blitzes and public affairs announcements to heighten awareness for those families who wish to become first-time homebuyers and volunteers who want to fulfill a need to give back to the community.
“This project looks pretty amazing,” says Dusten Dennis, who teaches building and construction at Aptos High. “I’m interested in recruiting some students to work on the project.”
Joel Hooper from Santa Cruz attended the tour Saturday and looks forward to volunteering. “It’s huge. I think it’s great! I’m happy to see more Section Eight Housing,” says Hooper.
Interim CEO for Habitat for Humanity Monterey, Tracy New, said the two-bedroom, two-bath; and three-bedroom, two-bath units are not considered Section Eight. New said the Evan Circle homes are meant for local families who can almost afford to buy a home, but with Skyrocketing housing costs in Santa Cruz County, they have been out bid of home ownership and need a little assistance.
The majority of land for Evan Circle was donated by the city of Watsonville. Habitat for Humanity began planning the affordable housing community eight years ago. Creative financing involved a combination of CalHome grants, bank loans, donations and gifts in kind.
“People in Santa Cruz have been amazing. There’s so many generous people,” said New.
New said, in general, a family of four can’t earn more than $137,000 per year to qualify for the Evans Circle Project. Since housing prices are constantly on the rise, that number fluctuates.
Qualification also depends on a family’s individual circumstances. Home buyers are also obligated to perform 500 hours of time devoted to construction and volunteering at the future Habitat for Humanity community.
Rubio says Evans circle received 91 applications for the first phase of homes to be completed and they’ve narrowed it down to eight potential buyers for the phase one units.
Habitat for Humanity will begin taking applications for phase two in the summer of 2027.
For more info visit Habitatmontereybay.com