Awarded by EconAlliance, Santa Barbara County 3rd District Supervisor Joan Hartmann presented People’s Self-Help Housing with the 2026 Northern Santa Barbara County Impact Award. Recognizing organizations providing extraordinary support in the community, it was accepted by current CEO & President Ken Trigueiro who was joined by former CEO & President John Fowler.
Pre-applications available now at pshhc.org/BGA
Presolicitudes disponibles ahora en pshhc.org/BGA
As we reflect on the past year, we’ve compiled some of the top stories that highlight what we were able to accomplish together. These stories were made possible by strong partnerships and visionary investments from people like you. Thank you for your advocacy, goodwill, and generous support every step of the way!
As we approach December 21, the longest night of the year, I am reminded of the profound significance this season holds for those of us committed to ending homelessness. The winter solstice is a natural pause, a moment to reflect on the stark reality faced by individuals who endure these long nights without the comfort of shelter.
While many of us live by calendars, alarms, and screens, the sun remains the oldest measure of time. In these days of deep darkness and cold, I encourage you to take a moment to consider what these hours mean for those without warmth, food, or safety.
We invite you to read our 2024-25 Annual Impact Report. Inside, you’ll find inspiring stories, accomplishments, and a detailed look at how your support has helped advance our mission over the past year!
Lea en español | Received this from a friend? Subscribe! eNewsletter September 2025 It’s back-to-school season for our Camino Scholars! With a gift of $55/month, students will have the tools and support to build their confidence, stay engaged with their studies, and succeed all year long.…
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.
CENTRAL COAST — People’s Self-Help Housing (PSHH) has awarded four students with the John Fowler Scholarship Award: Alondra Zarate of Isla Vista, Gabbi Rangel and Luna Ramirez Solano of Goleta, and Fatima Orozco of Guadalupe.
The John Fowler Scholarship, named in recognition of former President & CEO of PSHH, was created to support PSHH students in their pursuit of higher education, vocational training, or trade schools. Since 2020, multiple $1,000 scholarships have been awarded each year to high school seniors who demonstrate a commitment to bettering their community, a strong motivation for excellence, and planned enrollment in a degree or certificate program. Each applicant displayed academic excellence in various ways through essay responses, report cards, their involvement in extracurricular activities, and support of their community, to include caring for family members.
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 about this impactful program below.
CENTRAL COAST — People’s Self-Help Housing’s (PSHH) has announced a new Director of Homeownership: Emily Baranek.
As the Director of Homeownership, Emily leads a team of dedicated professionals working to make the dream of homeownership a reality for families across the Central Coast of California. With over two decades of experience in new home design, construction, and affordable real estate development, she brings a wealth of practical knowledge and strategic insight to PSHH.
“I am incredibly proud of the years spent working and learning with Habitat for Humanity. Providing affordable homeownership opportunities for our friends and neighbors throughout the Central Coast is a true passion of mine,” said Baranek. “I have always felt that homeownership is more than just a roof over your head – it’s a foundation for stability, growth and meaningful connection, and I am absolutely thrilled to be joining People’s Self-Help Housing in this shared mission.”
“We are so grateful for his passion and steadfast guidance over the past two decades,” said Shelly Higginbotham, PSHH Board Chair. “For his dedication and leadership, we congratulate Ken on reaching this significant milestone.”
Since joining PSHH in 2005, Ken has served in many roles, including Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, and Vice President of Real Estate Finance. With extensive experience accumulated through a 30+ year distinguished career in banking and affordable housing, Ken brings an innovative combination of executive skills to his role as CEO & President. He earned his undergraduate degree in Agricultural Business Management from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, and his MBA in Finance & Banking from Golden Gate University, San Francisco.
A big thank you to everyone who supported the 2025 Builder Games, presented by Mechanics Bank. Together, we raised over $125,000 for our Supportive Housing and Camino Scholars programs.
… Please be assured that in partnership with our esteemed colleagues in the housing community across the nation, we are staying informed and engaged, and making our voice heard to both our federal and state elected officials. We encourage you to voice your support too wherever and however you can. Our newsletter The Blueprint is a great resource to learn more about what is happening to housing, and we continue to thank you for your advocacy.
The cuts and changes directed by the current administration and the journey of the federal budget affects us all, whether as individuals or as in our case a nonprofit organization. The bumpy uncertainty has left many with feelings ranging from discouragement to dismissal.
Though our financing for development and operating is widely varied and highly diversified, People’s Self-Help Housing relies on numerous sources of federal funding, and decisions being made today will affect our work. The federal sources most affecting our work include funding from Congress through the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and US Department of Agriculture Rural Development (USDA RD). It remains to be seen how extensively the current directives may negatively impact new affordable housing production.
This year’s Black History Month has once again provided many opportunities to pause, reflect and learn more about the incomparable contributions made by African Americans in all spheres of life. And as it pertains to housing, while many will be aware of the ‘GI Bill’, perhaps not so many will be aware of its stark inequities which continue to have profound effects on the lack of intergenerational wealth building through homeownership.
For veterans coming home after brave and honorable service in World War II, The Servicemen’s Readjustment Act of 1944 – better known as the GI Bill – was envisioned as a pathway back and up into society for the millions returning to civilian life. One of the best-known components of that leveling up legislation was access to low interest financing. But for 1.3M African American heroes, the promise of homeownership was a dream denied with less than 1% successfully securing those life changing down payments and mortgages.
This year sees People’s Self-Help Housing celebrate its 55th Anniversary!
Since 1970, when a group of committed individuals said ‘we can do better to help house our neighbors’, we have been doing just that. Originally building through the self-help program – ten families building alongside each other, working on one another’s homes – and then amplifying those efforts through the development of multifamily housing, the DNA of our organization is mutuality and support.
CENTRAL COAST — This year, People’s Self-Help Housing (PSHH)celebrates 55 years as an organization. To commemorate this historic milestone, PSHH has launched a new celebratory logo and webpage for its use throughout 2025.
“What a privilege for an organization to celebrate 55 years,” said Ken Trigueiro, PSHH CEO & President. “From our origins on the heels of the seminal Fair Housing Act of 1968 to today, we have been proud to participate in the numerous partnerships that have brought tens of thousands of units of affordable housing to the Central Coast.”
As the year comes to a close, many of us will find ourselves both looking back over the past twelve months and, perhaps with some hesitancy, looking ahead to the next. At People’s, we are readying for change and please be confident along with me that together we will stay on the path forward, that our mission will continue to be served, and that many on our staggeringly long waitlists will find a place to call home.
Many believe in a certain story where a couple, soon-to-be parents, sought shelter after a long and tiring journey. It was the generosity of a stranger that housed the family that night, finding room for them when seemingly none could be found. We are all strangers until we meet, and it is in that precious space where we become neighbors and friends.
Although we are sometimes wisely counselled that it’s the journey that matters, not the destination, the start of football season gives those of us in the real estate development world a seasonal reminder that it’s getting it across the line that actually counts.
Some might argue that the metaphoric line is when the final piece of funding needed for the purchase of the land is secured, for others it might be the end of a protracted approvals and entitlements process. Our events team might say its when we together snap the classic “We did it!” ribbon cutting photo at the grand opening.
But there is a quieter, though no less celebrated moment, especially for the fortunate people involved, and that’s when we can take the next name off the wait list.
For me, that’s when it feels our team really got it across the line. I hope you’ll join us as we celebrate more coming wins!
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.
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!
We are thrilled to announce PSHH’s new Wealth Warrior program, generously sponsored by the Wells Fargo Foundation! PSHH residents will join financial educator and author Linda Garcia in a free, 3-month course, covering practical knowledge and actionable tactics for long-term financial planning.
CENTRAL COAST — People’s Self-Help Housing (PSHH) has received a $50,000 grant from Wells Fargo Foundation to jumpstart the new pilot program Wealth Warrior: 2024 Financial Health and Housing for PSHH residents at the Los Adobes de Maria property in Santa Maria.
The three-month financial literacy program, taught by financial educator and author Linda Garcia, will target 25 USDA farmworker households and aims to empower participants to overcome potential financial trauma. By offering practical knowledge and actionable tactics for long-term financial planning, residents will be provided the tools to create a legacy of financial stability and prosperity for their families through wise investment practices and begin building their own stock portfolios.
Dear Friend,
May is Mental Health Awareness month, but that subject is on our minds every month at People’s.
According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), “one in five US adults experience mental illness each year, and less than half of them receive treatment.” Fortunately for residents who live at a People’s property, our onsite specially trained supportive housing team is available to anyone facing mental health issues.
I invite you to revisit the history and the content of The Fair Housing Act here and reflect on what has been and can be achieved. Though we are tired of seeing the conditions still experienced around our communities that have not yet been righted, I trust you will stay encouraged, not growing weary of doing more and better.
Lea en español | Received this from a friend? Subscribe! eNewsletter | March 2024 Last month we celebrated the groundbreaking of Cleaver & Clark Commons – new affordable housing coming to the City of Grover Beach! This development will bring 53 new,…
People’s Place, located at 714 West Harvard Boulevard in Santa Paula, is a new construction development of 68 one-, two- and three-bedroom units, which will serve families and farmworker households earning 30-60% of the area median income. Eligibility is based on income requirements, occupancy limits, and other property-specific criteria. Section 8 vouchers are welcomed.
SANTA BARBARA — Last week, People’s Self-Help Housing (PSHH) broke ground on its newest affordable housing: Buellton Garden Apartments.
Located at 10 & 12 McMurray Road in Buellton, near essential services, this new development is comprised of 89 units. Including one-, two-, and three-bedroom units for low-income households, it features a welcoming community room, well-resourced learning center, and onsite supportive services for residents.
“We are thrilled to bring more affordable housing to the community members of the Santa Ynez Valley with our first ever project in Buellton,” said Ken Trigueiro, PSHH CEO & President. “We look forward to watching this site develop and come to life over the next couple years. It’s been a long time in the making, and we are grateful to officially have shovels in the ground.”
Located at 10 & 12 McMurray Road, near essential services, this new development is comprised of 89 units. Including one-, two-, and three-bedroom units for low-income households, it features a welcoming community room, well-resourced learning center, and onsite supportive services for residents.
CENTRAL COAST — On Saturday, April 27, People’s Self-Help Housing (PSHH) will be hosting the 2024 Builder Games from 3-7PM at their San Luis Obispo Corporate Office (1060 Kendall Road, San Luis Obispo).
Announced in a new promotional reel on YouTube, the Builder Games is back for its third year, bringing together local teams to construct unique playhouses for children. Returning teams RRM Design Group, Architects FORA, OMNI Design, 1st Capital Bank, and host People’s Self-Help Housing will be joined by two new teams, Blosser Urban Garden and Arris Studio Architects. Only one slot remains for anyone looking to take on these seasoned champions. The event promises much more than just competition, as guests can enjoy Santa Maria Style BBQ, a curated selection of local wine and craft beer, and great music from DJ Manuel Medina. All proceeds raised will be reinvested in the Central Coast, benefiting the education and supportive housing programs of PSHH.
EVENT POSTPONED —
Located at 855 4th Street, adjacent to bus routes, and community resources, this new construction development is comprised of 50 units. Residents will have access to a community center, picnic area, laundry room, playground, on-site property management, and supportive services. Some units will be designated for No Place Like Home households.
Dear Friend,
During this season of gift giving, I’ve been reflecting on all the amazing gifts People’s has received this year:
82 new employees: The need keeps growing, and so do we. The ability of our mission and organization to attract professional, committed individuals is an imperative if we are to continue confronting the housing crisis head on.
$1M in housing impact notes: It takes considerable philanthropic vision to fund project pre-development costs, they are typically not exciting or visible, but they are vital. We were so grateful for this incredible opportunity to move multiple challenging projects forward. Thanks to our Resource Development and Accounting & Finance teams who safely and soundly manage our financial resources, we can accomplish more mission and meet philanthropist partners’ objectives.
CENTRAL COAST — As the year comes to a close, People’s Self-Help Housing (PSHH) extends immense gratitude to the communities, partners and philanthropists who work together in support of the organization.
As the need has grown, so has People’s Self-Help Housing. Now operating in four counties, the fifty-three-year-old nonprofit daily serves over 5,000 residents who live at its 56 properties and is proud to have helped a similar number of people build their own homes.
In support of these families, seniors, veterans, those coming out of homelessness and people living with disabilities, PSHH has launched its 2023 Appeal.
“Thank you to all our supporters,” says CEO & President Ken Trigueiro, “through your expertise, generosity and commitment you have made our mission possible.
CENTRAL COAST — In an inspiring act of community service and holiday spirit, Central Coast Moving & Storage, a prominent local and long-distance moving company with headquarters in Paso Robles and a satellite location in Santa Maria, has once again exemplified their commitment to the North County of San Luis Obispo. Following the success of last year’s initiative, the company has escalated its impact by generously donating 200 turkeys to families in need for the holiday season.
This significant contribution was made possible in partnership with People’s Self-Help Housing (PSHH) and the El Camino Homeless Organization (ECHO). The turkey distribution event, conducted on November 17th, marked a high point in the collaborative efforts to support local communities during the festive season.
CENTRAL COAST – People’s Self-Help Housing (PSHH) has been recognized by the Ventura County Community Development Corporation (VCCDC) as the recipient of their Michael McGuire Award for Excellence in Community Partnership.
Each year, VCCDC honors individuals and organizations for their contributions to improving the lives of families and individuals through investment of time, resources, and advocacy, thereby underscoring important community engagement, visionary leadership, and lifetime of excellence. At this year’s Annual Awards Ceremony, ‘Leading People Home’, PSHH was selected for this prestigious recognition for their dedication to building robust, inclusive communities and offering affordable housing solutions to those in need.
“We are so humbled and honored to have received this award,” said Ken Trigueiro CEO & President, “Thank you to VCCDC for their acknowledgement of our organization. We are proud to be selected with four other incredible individuals who are all working in the joint effort to positively affect our communities.”
Dear Friend,
Previously living in an unheated trailer, with no running water or basic sanitary amenities, this month a family of seven moved into PSHH affordable housing. These are the moments we work for, these are the significant victories where we can all pause and celebrate.
And while despite our collective best efforts, the scale of the housing crisis seems only to increase, for those who do not have the assurance of a safe and comfortable place to call home, our work continues.
The upcoming weeks give us so many opportunities to express our gratitude. So, whether you are a fellow houser, a funder, a policy maker, a developer, an elected official, a voter, a donor, or any one of the myriad partners needed to bring solutions to the over 15,000 people patiently waiting on our housing lists, during this season of thankfulness, I want express my appreciation for your dedication and service.
We invite you to take a look at our 2022-23 Impact Report, a compilation of the top milestones from this past year! For the first time, this report is available in both English & Spanish. Together, we are building so much more than housing!
This Monday October 24, at 1:00PM, our County Planning Commission has invited public input to discuss a project that will allow People’s Self-Help Housing (PSHH) to develop 104 units of affordable rental housing within the overall Dana Reserve master-planned community.
This is so YOUR opinion can be voiced, in addition to the group who have already expressed their point of view.
Located west of US Highway 101 in Nipomo, and named the Dana Reserve, the overall project includes 104 units of deed-restricted affordable housing that would be developed and operated by PSHH. If approved, the developer will gift this land to our organization, which will bring much-needed affordable housing for Nipomo, a welcoming community that is key to so many who live, work, and recreate along the Central Coast.
CENTRAL COAST — People’s Self-Help Housing (PSHH) has announced their 2023 President’s Award and Employee of the Year winners. As an organization with over 220 employees, these awards recognize exceptional dedication to the mission of PSHH and this year have been presented to Aracely Barajas and Bianca Guillen respectively.
The President’s Award winner is selected from among nominees by CEO Ken Trigueiro to honor an employee who may not necessarily be highly visible, but continually makes a dramatic difference in support of the organization’s mission. This year Aracely Barajas, Social Worker in the Clinical Services team has been honored for her great ability to build relationships, not only within the organization, but far beyond into her community. Celebrating 10 years with the organization, Aracely has played a key role in collaboration between PSHH and outside agencies to implement new programs.
