Habitat for Humanity Opens ReStore to Fund Santa Cruz County Homes

On Saturday, members of the community celebrated the grand opening of the Habitat for Humanity "ReStore" on the westside of Santa Cruz.

The store follows the model of some 800 ReStores across the nation that help fund Habitat for Humanity's construction of new homes for low income families in their communities.

Vice Mayor Hilary Bryant helped cut the ribbon at the new Swift Street store, a warehouse-sized expanse of high quality new and used building materials and home furnishings. 

“I am so proud that we’re opening the store, and really on behalf of the city we feel like it’s the perfect trifecta, because we’re opening a new business in the city, we’re encouraging people to reduce, reuse, and recycle, and then on top of that we’re helping to build affordable housing,” said Bryant.

"We’ve been talking about this for years, and when I was on the board it just didn’t seem like we’d be able to get there but they did it," said Bryant. 

The store was made possible with a $50,000 investment which helped pay for the truck, two part time employees and the initial cost of the space. The rest is largely fueled by the work of volunteers.

"One hundred percent of the money that comes here goes straight to the homes. We have to pay our rent and we have to pay our staff, but the rest helps build homes," said David Foster, executive director of Santa Cruz's Habitat for Humanity chapter. 

For Foster, the store serves three very important purposes: to raise funds for the construction of new affordable homes, a resource for people to get low cost building materials and home furnishings for their home, and finally, to help reduce the inevitable waste products that comes from home improvement.

"We wanted to be part of the green building movement, to recycle materials, to find new life for building materials, and keep them out of the landfill," said Foster.

The ReStore is not a Goodwill, though, meaning they are highly selective with their donations. 

"We’re only taking things that we think will sell, quickly, and make a profit on it. We’re not the dump. So when the truck driver goes out there he’s kind of empowered to say no, if it’s questionable just say no," said Foster.

After the ribbon cutting on Saturday morning, the store flooded with enthusiastic patrons, and a fleet of Habitat for Humanity volunteers helped them find what they needed.

“I’m overwhelmed, it’s amazing that there’s such an accumulation of donated goods and this will be my go-to shopping place,” said Pat McVeigh, who was waiting in line to purchase air conditioning filters.

Erika Balasch is a volunteer at ReStore, who, like many, helps build houses in Santa Cruz County. She is currently working on a triplex on Blake lane in Scotts Valley.

"I can't wait to hand the keys over to the new owners," said Balasch, who has been volunteering for the past year and who did not have any prior building experience. 

"Every volunteer is just so helpful. If you don't know how, they'll show you how," Balasch said. 

Duf Fischer, Chairman of the Ambassador of the Chamber of Commerce also sits no the Habitat for Humanity Board, and was beaming from ear to ear at the grand opening of ReStore which he said is very needed.

"It’s so gratifying to see people finally getting a home, and they have equity in it, and they have a vested interest in something and its a feeling of a sense of accomplishment," said Fischer.

The Habitat for Humanity ReStore is located at 719 Swift Street in Santa Cruz. It is open on Thursday, Friday and Saturdays from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.