This month, PSHH is celebrating 54 years of changing lives and strengthening communities on the Central Coast! To make a gift in honor of our anniversary, visit pshhc.org/buildingtogether.
Dear Friend,The physical achievements of People’s Self-Help Housing are plain to see. Drive along California’s famous Central Coast and almost every exit along its equally famous Highway 101 leads to People’s developed real estate, neighborhoods that currently house over 10,000 residents.
If you drive past one of those neighborhoods during pick-up or drop-off times, you’ll notice the yellow buses filled with students on their way to a multitude of schools close by. Those kids are likely to be well-dressed, well-rested, and well-fed.
Affordable housing means so much more than just being able to make the rent or mortgage. It means parents are home more because they don’t have to work a third job, they have enough money left over after their housing costs are met to feed their family, and through economic and housing stability, they can send their children to the local school set up for success.
So, while I will always be proud to share with you about the people who currently live with us, I’m equally proud to talk to you about the people who no longer do. Those who came to live at a PSHH property as a child, and because their parents broke the cycle of poverty, succeeded in school, were the first in their family to graduate from college, opened their own business or pursued a professional career, and now live somewhere else.
Think of that with a smile the next time you see a school bus outside of a People’s neighborhood!
Ken Trigueiro
CEO & President
Wednesday, September 18 | 12 – 1:30 pm,
855 4th Street, Pismo Beach, CA 93449
We hope you will join us at our upcoming Grand Opening celebration:
Pismo Terrace has brought 50 units of new, affordable housing to the City of Pismo Beach. A collaboration with the 5 Cities Homeless Coalition, this site provides a safe place to call home for low-income households, formerly-homeless individuals, and transitional-age youth.
We will also be unveiling the Shelly Higginbotham Community Room, named in honor of the PSHH Board Chair, former City of Pismo Beach, and tireless advocate for affordable housing.
Congratulations to our 2024 Team Member Award Winners:
Achievement in Housing Award: Sheryl Flores, Director of Home Ownership (pictured left)
Team Member of the Year: Chris Morrison, Compliance Specialist (pictured center)
Team Member of the Year: Matt Thomsen, Construction Manager (pictured right)
Seeking Local Artists
In partnership with the California Arts Council, People’s Self-Help Housing is looking to partner with a Central Coast artist to bring art education to local students. We are looking for someone to:
Plan a 30-40 minute art lesson of their choice (visual art, painting, watercolors, oil painting, pastels, photography, videography, sculpture, performance arts, dance, theatre, music production, etc.)
Present the lesson to four K-8 classrooms. Class sizes are 15-20 students at locations in Carpentaria, Santa Barbara and Goleta.
Compensation is provided. Email a resume to itzelts@pshhc.org to apply!
Ensuring Resident Success
A PSHH resident faced challenges with his employment disability claim after undergoing open-heart surgery. With the support of his PSHH Social Worker, an appeal was filed.
While waiting seven months for his hearing, the social worker helped this resident apply for permanent Social Security Disability, CalFresh benefits, and found interim financial assistance to help reduce his rent.
Thanks to the help of the Supportive Housing Program, this resident not only succeeded through a complicated, stressful experience, but he also won his disability appeal – helping re-achieve stability for his whole family!
Get Involved!
Here are some ways you can help move our mission forward this month:
Advocate: ‘The Blueprint’ is our bi-monthly publication that brings reliable, curated resources to create well-informed advocates for affordable housing.
Learn: Are you organizing a panel or seeking expert insights on affordable housing? Request a presentation from one of our in-house experts.
Give: Support our work by joining our Monthly Giving Program benefiting the fund of your choice.
Volunteer: Make a difference by lending your time and skills to those in need.
…and in case you missed it, the top story from last month’s eNews:
Last month, PSHH students participated in College Signing Day, an event where their friends, family, and educators celebrated next steps into higher education. Congratulations to our 60 hardworking students who graduated this year!
Dear Friend,The physical achievements of People’s Self-Help Housing are plain to see. Drive along California’s famous Central Coast and almost every exit along its equally famous Highway 101 leads to People’s developed real estate, neighborhoods that currently house over 10,000 residents.
Seeking Local Artists
Ensuring Resident Success
