Habitat for Humanity of Tulare County has been building houses since it’s inception in 1994. It took us 10 years to build our first 13 houses. In 2007 and 2008 we dedicated 6 houses. Habitat for Humanity of Tulare County has build 33 new homes, purchased and remodeled 13 foreclosed home though our “Rescued Homes” program, and helped with more than 125 home repairs through our “A Brush with Kindness” program.
In 2012 we started our first new home build in the City of Tulare since 2006 and will continue our partnership with the City of Visalia by purchasing and remodeling 5 more foreclosed homes.
Here is a look back on some of the projects we have completed.
The “Insulated Concrete Forms House” in Tulare used Styrofoam forms from “Logix” to create the structure of the walls. Concrete was then poured in between the forms to create the finished walls. This house was built almost exclusively by the students at the Tulare Adult School. It was started in 2006 and completed in early 2007. Thank you to Logix, Cemex and High Sierra Lumber for partnering with us on this build.
ICF house Dedication: Representatives from Cemex, Logix, and High Sierra Lumber joined Habitat for Humanity staff and volunteers to celebrate with the new family at the ICF dedication. Many representatives from The City of Tulare & The Redevelopment Agency joined the guests. Rick & Tracy Kristoff performed the house dedication, blessing the family and the home. Guests then had the opportunity to tour this very unique Habitat home.
In Partnership with the Home Builders Association of Tulare/Kings County and Centex Homes, Habitat for Humanity of Tulare County joined hundreds of other affiliates across Canada and the United States to build more than 250 houses in one week. With the help of more than 40 trade partners and their professional volunteers, we finished the house in 4 days!! The success of this build rested on the shoulders of the Centex Supervisors who created a work plan that ran like clockwork and had all the volunteers working on time and with smiles on their faces. Thank you to everyone for making this build so successful!!
Blitz Build Dedication: On June 7th the See family moved into their new home only 4 days after the first walls were constructed. The entire Centex Supervisory crew joined Habitat staff and volunteers to dedicate the house with the family. Thank you to all the trades people who volunteered time and product for this special house!
The Green Build is the first two story, certified “Green” home that Habitat for Humanity of Tulare County has built. It has 2×6 wall studs with R-19 insulation, radiant barrier roofing, a tank-less water heater, a photovoltaic system and many more “Green” items. The Rotary Clubs of Visalia and Tulare, City of Visalia Redevelopment Agency, Centex, Southern California Edison, UPS, St. Paul’s Anglican Church, Wells Fargo Bank and Federal Home Loan Bank, joined many congregational and community sponsors and volunteers to build this house.
Green Build Dedication: On June 7th, 2008, Father Samuel Bordon from St. Mary’s Catholic Church blessed the home and family of our first “Green Build”. Many volunteers and staff from Habitat for Humanity of Tulare County joined the family to celebrate the day. It is customary to give the new family a bible at the dedication and our family partners, Francis and Vicente Nieto, were proud to do the presentation. Thank you to all the volunteers and donors who helped make the home ownership dream come true for another hard working, very low-income family.
The United Faith Build
On Saturday, September 6, 2008 between 7:30 and 8:00 am, volunteers raised the first walls on the United Faith Build in Visalia at 1636 N Summers Street. A Group from Lemoore Naval Base joined the homeowner family, and many other volunteers, to raise the walls on the third house to go in on Summers Street. This house was a combined effort of donations and volunteers from several churches in Tulare County as well as help from our local community. The house was dedicated on April 25, 2009. Thank you to all the donors and volunteers who helped build this house.
A group from Lemoore, working on the United Faith House, took a short break from volunteering to talk to a Cub Scouts Group from Tulare. They talked about getting involved in their community and giving back. Maybe we can recruit some more volunteers——after they turn 16 of course.
Thank you to all the partners, volunteers and family partners who spend hours working on Habitat for Humanity projects. We could not do it without you!!
The Celebration House marks 33 Homes for Habitat for Humanity of Tulare County!!
Habitat for Humanity has been serving hard working, very low-income families in Tulare County for 15 years. On April 25, 2009, with the help of volunteers from the community and more than 20 volunteers from Cigna Health Care, all the exterior and interior walls were completed in ‘one day’ on the “Celebration House”. They even had time to add the sheeting on the exterior walls. This is a personal best for a Habitat for Humanity of Tulare County wall raising. The mortgage payments from 32 Habitat homeowners put the foundation and roof on this new home. Thanks to all the volunteers and to Edward Jakubowski, Habitat’s site supervisor, for organizing the event so well.
The dedication for the “Celebration House” was on Saturday, December 12th, 2009, getting the new homeowners in the house before Christmas. This was the 33rd “New Homes” project for Habitat for Humanity. We Dedicated our third “Rescued Homes” project later on December 12th.
Women Build Day!!
Several women from Lowe’s and our local community joined the Habitat construction group on the “Celebration House”, Wednesday May 6th, to participate in a national “Women Build Week” celebration. Women all across the nation joined Habitat construction crews during this special week. Women Build projects have been sponsored by Lowe’s since 2006 and they continue to support Habitat for Humanity locally and nationally in projects that encourage women to work on job sites learning basic and advanced construction skills. Thank you to our local Tulare County Lowe’s staff for their support.
House Dedication for the Cannon-Madrid Family!
On Friday, July 8th, 2011, Habitat for Humanity of Tulare County dedicated another “Rescued Home” in Visalia on N. Court Street. Habitat for Humanity, in partnership with The City of Visalia Redevelopment agency, has purchased and remodeled eight foreclosed homes with homeowners who would otherwise never had realized the dream of home ownership. The new homeowners, Wilmer and Nakor Cannon-Madrid, worked with the volunteers from the community to refurbish this three bedroom, two bath home and Wilmer and his family are thrilled to be in their new home for the summer. Wilmer served 8 years active duty with the US Navy on the Enterprise, the Nimitz and the Roosevelt. In the Navy Reserves he was deployed to Kuwait and Iraq.
Rescued Home dedication in Hanford!
The Thursday, July 14th, 2011 house dedication in Hanford brought out lots support from the local community. More than 50 local volunteers and supporters joined Habitat for Humanity staff to celebrate with Elizabeth Shelton, the newest Habitat homeowner. The foreclosed house was purchased in partnership with the City of Hanford in early 2011 and needed very little repair. During the process the house was vandalized and doors were damaged. Three teachers and 60 third graders from Kings River Hardwick School, after reading a story of a young boy whose family became Habitat homeowners, decided to fund raise for Elizabeth and raised enough money to make the repairs. During the fundraising project it was discovered that one of the third grade students was part of the family to purchase the next Habitat home in Hanford.
Gaylen Crantrell, pastor of the First Pentecostal Church of Hanford, performed the house dedication. The color guard from the Juvenile Academy started the ceremony by presenting the colors.
Thank you to John Steiner, Doug and Rene True, Craig True, & Amparo Attebery, our volunteer committee in Hanford, for all the hours spent helping Habitat for Humanity of Tulare County make a real difference in the lives of families in Hanford. Thank you to all the volunteers for their help with the remodel.
A Celebration as we dedicate our 12th “Rescued Home”!
On November 3rd, 2011 we dedicated our 12th ‘Rescued Homes” project and celebrated with our newest homeowner Christopher Nuno and his family. Thank you to Pastor Jason Backland from Visalia Community Covenant Church for dedicating the home. Thank you to our construction staff Ron Rindge and Edward Jakubowski, and all the volunteers who worked with them on this project. A special thank you to the City of Visalia Redevelopment Agency, Whirlpool, Lowe’s, American Blind Company, Elizabeth Shelton, The Celaya Family, AM1 (AW) Liford & CNATTU Lemoore, & NC1 (AW/SW) Hollis & VFA 122 First Class Association.
“My name is Christopher, and I wrote this to express my gratitude and to thank all that were involved in making this possible…not only for myself, but for giving this opportunity to others that are responsible, good people just facing difficult times. This world can be a better place and I firmly believe that with programs like this and those who sponsor them, it will be! ”
“Again, thank you for everything.” Christopher A. Nuno ~ Proud Homeowner and Partner.
