WHAT: Habitat for Humanity of Ventura County and sponsors, St. Maximilian Kolbe’s “Habitat to the Max” Ministry, Houweling Nurseries Oxnard, Inc., and the County of Ventura teamed up to build two Habitat for Humanity homes in Piru, CA. These dedications mark the 53rd and 54th homes built since groundbreaking on the first new home in Ventura County in 1994. To-date, 24 Habitat homes have been built in Piru and all of the original homeowners still reside in their homes.

Through a donation of funds from the County, Habitat was able to acquire the parcel of land at 550 Temescal, which included an abandoned hotel. In partnership with more than 60 volunteers from the community, Habitat immediately improved the neighborhood through the demolition and removal of this structurally unsafe, debris-filled hotel.

WHEN: Sunday, September 25, 2011. The event will begin at 2:00 p.m. with introductions and opening remarks, followed by a formal house dedication and blessing, a tour of the new home, photos, and refreshments.

WHO: Participants will include Supervisor Kathy Long, Brian Beggs from Houweling Nurseries, St. Maximilian Habitat to the Max Ministry, Habitat for Humanity Board of Directors, staff, volunteers and friends of Habitat. The Habitat partner-family will be available for interviews.

WHERE: 550 Temescal Street, Piru, CA 93015. Directions: Take Highway 126 East to Piru. Turn left onto Main Street at the traffic light. Continue to the stop sign and turn right. Take the 2nd right onto Temescal and travel 1 block. Parking is on the street.

Habitat for Humanity of Ventura County
Habitat for Humanity is a non-profit, ecumenical Christian housing organization that builds homes in partnership with people in need of adequate shelter. Homeowners are selected based on their need for housing, ability to repay a zero-interest, no-profit loan, and willingness to partner with Habitat for Humanity. Because Habitat’s loans are no-profit, they are affordable for low-income family partners. Homeowners’ mortgage payments build additional houses through the Fund for Humanity. Habitat for Humanity of Ventura County, a locally-run and locally-funded affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International, has provided homeownership opportunities for 54 Ventura County families and repaired over 500 homes since 1983. www.habitatventura.org.

Habitat to the Max Ministry
Habitat to the Max is one of the outreach ministries at St. Maximilian Kolbe Catholic Church in Westlake Village. The ministry’s mission is to sponsor affordable housing, working in partnership with Habitat for Humanity of Ventura County, and to provide safe and decent housing for low-income families living in substandard housing. The first Habitat to the Max house was completed by volunteers in 2007, followed by a duplex dedicated in 2009. Both are in Oxnard. The ministry has just completed their fourth home in Piru and is currently raising funds for their sixth house, located on Stroube Street in Oxnard.

Build sponsors
(House Sponsors; donated and/or discounted goods and/or labor)
St. Maximilian Habitat to the Max Ministry, Houweling Nurseries Oxnard, Inc., County of Ventura (Major Sponsors); Alladin Air Conditioning, Geske’s Hauling Service, Gold Coast Erectors, L K Services, Inc.(In-Kind Sponsors)