SAN FERNANDO : Families Ready Move Into Habitat Homes

Two families are preparing to move into new homes in San Fernando that are being “blitz built” this week by volunteers from Habitat for Humanity, a nonprofit organization that helps people build affordable housing.

Rudy Mendoza and his mother, Maria, both of whom are blind, will move into a 1,100-square-foot house on Griffith Street, while Mariana Arias, her daughter and mentally disabled granddaughter will move into a 1,300-square-foot house on Mott Street.

Both families’ homes were destroyed in the January, 1994, Northridge earthquake and later demolished.

Using a combination of federal disaster assistance funds, and donations of manpower and construction materials, Habitat for Humanity and interior design students from Cal State Northridge are building new homes for both families.

The students designed plans for the two homes as part of their advanced interior design courses at CSUN. The plans were approved by registered architects and city planners.

This week, the students are assisting volunteers and members of both families during the construction process, which is part of Habitat’s annual Jimmy Carter Work Project. For the past 11 years, Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, have joined Habitat volunteers to build homes and raise awareness of affordable housing needs.

This week, the Carters are working at Habitat’s main project site in Watts, where volunteers plan to build 18 homes before the week’s end. The Carters may make a trip to the sites in San Fernando this week, Habitat officials said.

If not, volunteers from San Fernando may still have a chance to meet the former first couple at a lasagna dinner sponsored by Holy Cross Medical Center in Mission Hills. Holy Cross is paying for the dinner, which will be held Thursday for the 1,000 volunteers from all Habitat sites. The Carters are expected to attend the dinner, to be held at Ritter School in Watts.

Recipients of Habitat homes are expected to contribute during the construction process in whatever way they can, officials said, and no exceptions were made for the Arias and Mendoza families.

“The Mendozas are blind, but they’re helping in the registration tent, handing out food to the volunteers--they definitely want to help,” said Nancy Arnold, a staff member of Habitat’s Santa Clarita / San Fernando Valley branch.

“The Ariases too, are helping at Mott Street, helping dig, carry lumber, whatever they can do.”

Construction began Saturday and is about a day behind schedule because of last week’s rains, Arnold said. Both San Fernando sites are in need of additional volunteer plumbers and electricians. The foundations for both houses have already been laid, and the framing, piping and roof sheeting are completed.

“It looks like we’ll be handing the families their house keys on Saturday,” Arnold said.

For information, call (818) 765-2073.