Enriched Neighborhoods

Our enriched neighborhood model provides no-cost social and educational services to the neighborhoods.  These services include: Health Information, Dental Hygiene, Teen Empowerment and Children’s Programs such as tutoring, and are unique to our Habitat for Humanity affiliate.  Other programs like home ownership and repair and money management are also provided.

To be successful, this type of housing must include a supportive environment that provides training, and a neighborhood culture that encourages self-sufficiency.  This vital link is all too often missing in housing programs.  That is why we connect our families with other social service agencies to bring services right into housing neighborhoods.

This Enriched Neighborhood model relies on the partnership of other local and regional non-profits, caring corporations and small businesses to provide support to our families 6 months before and 12 months after moving into their new homes.

Families will receive Sweat Equity hours for all classes and services including required ones.

Click on the classes below to learn more about each service:

Required Classes
Building Self Sufficient Families (BSSF) – Citibank & CredAbility
Dental Screening – Local Dentists
Nutrition – Planet Lunchroom
Obesity & Diabetes – Providence St. Joseph’s
Gardening – Pacoima Beautiful, Sylmar High School
Computer Training – UCLA/CSUN
Home Repair – Habitat Site Supervisors

Optional Classes
Funding/Grants for College – Project Grad
Insurance-Penny Wise/Pound Foolish – State Farm & Allstate
Safety in the Home-Poisons – Poison Control
Safety in the Home-Environment – AAA
Neighborhood Watch – Police & Sheriff’s Departments
Certified Emergency Response – Fire Department Training
Disaster Preparedness – Fire Department
Home Repair – Lowe’s/Home Depot
Tutoring – UCLA/CSUN
Life Forward – Zonta
Art – Volunteers, Windows Between Worlds
ESL (10 day course) – Interns/Volunteers
Employee Training/Skills – VEDC
Understanding Insurance – Allstate
Understanding Loan Documents – New Economics for Women

Veteran Specific Services
A Window Between Worlds – Art workshops for trauma victims
PTSD Counseling – SCV Child & Family Center
Peer-to-Peer Veteran Dialogue
FOCUS Program for Veteran Families – SCV Child & Family Center
Domestic Violence Counseling – SCV Child & Family Center
Military Benefits – CalVet, COC, Congressman Buck McKeon’s Office, & Mission Continues
COC Veteran G.I. Bill Program – COC

Although the numerous programs offered to the participants are exciting, what really counts are the results they produce.  That is why we are thrilled to report the results of the Pacoima community are remarkable:

• In the city of Pacoima, where the average drop-out rate is 51%, children who grow up in a Habitat Enriched Neighborhood have over 99% graduation rates.
• Grade point averages among Habitat families are above 3.1.
• The average time Habitat homeowners have been at their current jobs is 7.18 years.
• Despite current trends, there have been no foreclosures among the over 214 families served.
• over 10% of parents in Habitat households have returned to school for a degree or certificated program to advance employment.