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Bilingual report — Peoples’ Self-Help Housing August 2025 Newsletter

by Community Contributor • August 25, 2025 • Comments Off

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eNewsletter | August 2025

Cheers to 55 years! This month, nearly 200 PSHH team members from throughout the Central Coast came together to mark the milestone.

Friend,We recently learned of the passing of Jeanette Duncan, who, for nearly four decades, was the very heartbeat of our organization.

Joining not too long after our founding in 1970 by a few volunteer community members and on the heels of the Fair Housing Act, Jeanette began her time as our first Executive Director with People’s Self-Help Housing, supporting individuals and families to build their own houses and achieve their dream of home ownership. Coming alongside those spirited volunteers as their shovels broke ground on those first houses, she subsequently recruited a core of professionals whose dedication would see the work of People’s expanding to serve thousands spread across the tri-counties of the Central Coast.

Under her leadership, Jeanette drove the organization’s ability to develop affordable and accessible multifamily housing, to which she further enriched with services and programming benefiting residents of PSHH communities – including onsite learning centers and on-staff social workers.

Jeanette always maintained that a People’s project shouldn’t just be in a neighborhood, it should add to a neighborhood. Hence, her insistence on quality design, beautiful landscaping (most often including her signature colorful roses), and exemplary maintenance.

During Jeanette’s tenure, she not only knew all her employees by name, but also the names of the residents and their families she was serving. She was a fixture at city council and county boards of supervisors’ meetings throughout our footprint and a strong advocate for affordable housing well beyond the reach of PSHH. Whether in Sacramento or in the hallowed halls of D.C., Jeanette was a sought-after expert in the field of affordable housing and a respected voice for those seeking a decent and safe place to live.

Long after leaving People’s Self-Help Housing, she continued to volunteer and advocate for affordable housing, benefiting numerous boards nationally and philanthropically.

Jeanette Duncan was an original. She was a force of nature, a force for much-needed change, and a force for good. She will be deeply missed.

Ken Trigueiro

CEO & President

If you would like to contribute a gift to PSHH in honor Jeanette Duncan’s incredible legacy, you may do so here by adding your dedication. Your generosity supports the invaluable services for our communities that Jeanette began and shaped over her many years leading PSHH.

Introducing the 2025-30 Strategic Plan
Our new Strategic Plan is now available! Crafted through collaboration from team members, board of directors, community partners, and those we serve, this five-year plan highlights our commitment to expanding access to safe housing and supportive services that empower individuals and families. It focuses on our priorities for growth, equity, and innovation in building stronger communities across the Central Coast.

Read the 2025-30 Strategic Plan

Affordable Housing Bond Act of 2026
The most important affordable housing related action facing our state elected officials right now is whether to place $10 billion in general obligation funds on the 2026 ballot.

A housing bond is a way to leverage private equity to address the critical need for more housing in California. Investment would finance the construction, rehabilitation, or preservation of housing for those with low to moderate incomes ensuring more affordable rents and mortgages.

To learn more and find ways to support this initiative, read the latest edition of our advocacy newsletter: The Blueprint.

Updates from the PSHH Pipeline
Take a look at the latest progress at our sites all along the Central Coast:

Paint, flooring, and cabinets underwayEst. completion: December 2025

Drywall, texture, and exterior cladding in progress
Est. completion: June 2026

Cabinets, countertops, and interior finishes underway
Est. completion: December 2025

Looking for a new home? From family-friendly apartments to senior housing, these properties provide safe, affordable, and welcoming places to call home.

Secure Your Legacy, Build Your Community
August is National Make-a-Will Month, a perfect time to ensure your wishes are known and to make things easier for your loved ones. Creating a will is a simple step that provides peace of mind and allows you to support the causes you cherish.

A gift in your will to People’s Self-Help Housing helps us continue our vital work in providing affordable housing and supportive services on the Central Coast.

Learn more about how you can make a lasting impact

Announcing the 2025 John Fowler Scholarship Recipients
Congratulations to the four talented Camino Scholars students who were awarded the 2025 John Fowler Scholarship! Alondra, Fatima, Gabii, and Luna (not pictured) will be leaving this fall to pursue degrees in higher education.?
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Since 2020, this scholarship, provided in honor of former PSHH CEO & President, supports students financially as they pursue college, vocational, or trade schools.

Join the Team!
We offer an array of dynamic, rewarding opportunities to strengthen your career while making a difference! Our current openings include:

AP Specialist | San Luis Obispo
Assistant Property Manager | Carpinteria
Leasing and Occupancy Coordinator | San Luis Obispo
Maintenance Technician I | Santa Maria
Roving Property Manager | Oceano
Senior Property Manager | Guadalupe
Special Projects Coordinator | San Luis Obispo
Temporary Assistant Property Manager | Goleta

… and more!

View All Open Positions & Apply

Get Involved!
Here are some ways you can help move our mission forward this month:

Advocate: Subscribe to ‘The Blueprint’ – a monthly publication bringing reliable, curated information about affordable housing advocacy. Read recent editions.
Learn: Are you seeking expert insights on affordable housing? Request a presentation!
Give: Join our Monthly Giving program, benefiting the fund of your choice.
Volunteer: Lend your time and skills to a PSHH program.

And in case you missed it, the top story from last month’s eNews:

Our Camino Scholars summer program is in full swing! From touring the Santa Ynez Chumash Museum and feeding animals at Ostrichland to dolphin watching on a Santa Barbara Harbor boat and a visit to the Maritime Museum, our students have been busy having fun in the sun! Learn more at pshhc.org/education.

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