Habitat Homes A Dream Come True For Marin Families

NOVATO, CA – Ryan Camp’s dream of owning a home in Marin County had been dashed. He and his wife, Heather, had depleted their savings while paying for their youngest child’s costly battle with cancer.

Camp, a lifelong Marin resident, feared he would not be able to raise his children in the county where he grew up.

The dream of owning a home in Marin County finally became a reality for the Camps, thanks to Habitat for Humanity Greater San Francisco. The family learned last year they were one of a dozen families chosen to move into a new community of affordable homes near downtown Novato.

“For us, it means security and a place to call home – a place to make memories with family and friends,” Camp said about his family’s new home. “We are beyond grateful for the kindness and generosity of Habitat for Humanity Greater San Francisco. This process has instilled a desire for us to give back and teach our children the value of helping others.”

The Camps, along with their new neighbors, celebrated the completion of Mt. Burdell Place last weekend with a ceremony at the site. The new community offers 10 three-bedroom, two-and-a-half-bath, single-family homes.

“Habitat for Humanity Greater San Francisco is ecstatic to welcome home our newest homeowners to Mt. Burdell Place,” said Maureen Sedonaen, chief executive officer of Habitat for Humanity Greater San Francisco. “Habitat has long desired to build our traditional model of an affordable housing community in Marin.”

Most of the new homeowners are longtime Marin residents who live and work in the Novato community.

The Camps have lived in Novato for the past 11 years. Ryan and Heather both worked for The Salvation Army until their then 2-year-old son, Leo, was diagnosed with leukemia in 2012.

Heather left her longtime job to care for their son, while Ryan also left the nonprofit sector to find more lucrative work as a tow truck operator to support his family of five.

After years of chemotherapy and radiation, Leo, now 6, is in remission. Heather has also gone back to work as a nutritional services assistant for Novato Unified School District.

“Habitat for Humanity Greater San Francisco caused this to happen – a dream come true for my family and me,” Camp said. “To think that they construct similar projects all over the country is quite humbling. It is a selfless organization that thrives on helping others by providing houses to families so they can make them into homes. What greater gift could one receive?”

Habitat for Humanity is a global nonprofit organization that helps build, repair and renovate affordable homes in nearly 1,400 communities across the United States and in approximately 70 countries around the world.

Mt. Burdell Place marks the fifth Habitat project in Marin, but the first in the county to be constructed from the ground up. The Bay Area chapter had previously purchased four single-family foreclosed homes in Marin that were renovated and sold to low-income families.

Ten market-rate homes were originally planned for the parcel housing the multi-family development project. After the economy crashed, the developer looked to sell the land and Habitat for Humanity capitalized on the opportunity to purchase the property and develop 10 affordable homes.

“As we navigate the housing affordability crisis, we need to look at providing long-term solutions that stick,” Sedonaen said. “In the Bay Area, wealth stratification is becoming a critical problem as families continue to be pushed further and further out. Affordable homeownership is an incredibly important wealth-building strategy for low- and moderate-income Americans.”

Habitat Greater San Francisco provides affordable homeownership opportunities for households in the 40 to 80 percent area median income range, which is anywhere between $46,000 to $92,000 for a family of four.

Homes are sold at zero profit with 0 percent interest and $0 down payment. Residents pay no more than 30 percent of their monthly income on monthly housing payments.

Future residents are also required to provide “sweat equity” by putting in 500 hours of work into the homes.

Like their neighbors, the Camps put 500 hours into the project. The couple’s eldest son, 18-year-old John Camp, volunteered 200 hours.

The soon-to-be high school senior helped build his family’s home for four hours every Tuesday after school. He also spent much of his winter and spring breaks on the project.

“From the day we first started working our sweat equity hours, my family came together and everyone chipped in to help,” Ryan Camp said.

“John is excited because he understands how much it means for us to become homeowners,” he added.

As for Leo? Camp said his son is excited to play with the neighborhood kids. He said his middle child, 12-year-old Liberty, is excited because she has always wanted a dog but the family could never consider having a pet because many rental homes don't allow them.

The Camps and nine other families will move into their new homes in September.

“We are thrilled to welcome Ryan and Heather Camp and their three wonderful children into the Habitat family,” Sedonaen said. “We are excited that Ryan and Heather will have the long-term roots established through homeownership and their family can continue to live, grow and thrive in the Novato community.

“Marin is lucky to have Mt. Burdell homeowners and their children as neighbors,” she added.

With Mt. Burdell Place completed, Sedonaen said Habitat for Humanity Greater San Francisco is looking for new opportunities to bring more affordable homes to Marin.

“Habitat Greater San Francisco is eager to build off the success of Mt. Burdell Place and expand our presence in Marin,” Sedonaen said. “We are actively looking for new partnerships and land to develop much needed affordable homeownership opportunities in Marin.”

PHOTO CREDIT: Paige Green Photography