East Bay Habitat for Humanity Builds Green in the Fruitvale District

by Joel Mackey, Executive Director, East Bay Habitat for Humanity

East Bay Habitat for Humanity will soon build four houses in the Fruitvale District of Oakland, on Davis Street and Fruitvale Avenue. In early 2003, we plan to begin construction on four three- and four-bedroom single-family homes. The families for the homes have been selected and will begin working on the sweat-equity hours soon. Each family must complete a minimum of 500 hours of sweat equity to help build its home. Every family qualified for the project is low- or very low-income and currently lacks simple decent housing.

As we are all too aware, affordable housing is at crisis levels in the Bay Area. In Oakland, approximately only 15 percent of our residents can afford a median-priced home. Too many of us are also priced out of the expensive rental market. East Bay Habitat for Humanity is trying to help resolve this affordability crisis by building homes in Oakland and other parts of Alameda and Contra Costa Counties. We are currently building or have plans to build homes in Oakland, Livermore, Crockett, North Richmond, and several other communities in the East Bay. The total number of homes in the development pipeline exceeds 100 units. The Fruitvale development is the next development slated to begin construction. We look forward to beginning construction on these houses this winter.

These houses are particularly noteworthy since they will be the first "green" development built by East Bay Habitat for Humanity. The homes will incorporate environmentally sustainable design, building materials, and energy efficiency. The green focus of this project will enable us to reduce the consumption of raw and manufactured building materials while also conserving energy use and reducing post-construction waste that normally goes into our overfilled landfills. The community will benefit from reduced waste into our landfills as well as from the reduction of manufacturing-related pollution and the conservation of natural energy resources.

We plan to include such items as certified framing materials, solar panels for domestic hot water, fiber-rock wallboard, cellulose insulation, and photovoltaic solar panels. We hope to work with local suppliers interested in donating materials for this project. We anticipate that this green project will set the stage for many green projects to come in Oakland and the East Bay.

The genesis of the Fruitvale project came from the support and encouragement of the Fruitvale District Board. Their early support for the development led to the City of Oakland awarding the site to East Bay Habitat for Humanity through the City of Oakland's Vacant Lands initiative. Significant early funding for the project came from the Alameda County Waste Recycling Board. They provided the seed funds that have enabled us to develop the homes green. We are grateful to the Fruitvale community, the City of Oakland, and the Alameda County Waste Recycling Board for their early support in helping to get the project started.

We are also grateful to the many volunteers and donors who have supported and will support and contribute to this project. The support of donors and volunteers is critical to the success of this and all of our projects. We hope that you will consider supporting the project with your financial resources and your labor. The cost to develop the site and build the homes is approximately $800,000. Your support will go a long way towards helping make this project a reality.

Want to get involved with East Bay Habitat for Humanity?

East Bay Habitat is looking for volunteers at this and other construction sites and in the office. Check out our Web site at www.eastbayhabitat.org for more information on our many ongoingprojects, or contact the office at 251-6304 or info\@eastbayhabitat.com.