The first house FCHSD renovated,
before it was fixed up

The San Diego version of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition doesn't have cameras or "move that bus" moments. It does, however, have happy endings for San Diego families who can't afford to repair or renovate their homes. In the midst of the housing crisis, the Fuller Center for Housing of San Diego (FCHSD) was organized in June 2008 to help lift the burden for homeowners unable to fix up dilapidated properties.

The center is a partner of the faith-based International Fuller Center for Housing, started by Millard Fuller (also the founder of Habitat for Humanity). Last summer, Fuller was organizing a fundraising bike ride across America, which began in San Diego. Rich Geisler, vice-president of J. Whalen Associates, Inc., suggested starting a San Diego branch, and FCHSD was born.

"We're the first West Coast affiliate," Geisler said. "Typically, you start your own branch, and it's all volunteers and locally run. The goal is to integrate with whomever we can to rehabilitate and build houses." FCHS recently hired an executive director, Cheryl Keenan, who helped build and develop the local branch of Habitat for Humanity.

As foreclosures mount and low-income residents struggle to maintain any housing, the center is working with existing resources---such as the Urban Corps of San Diego and Community Housing Works---on a facelift program for two homes in City Heights this summer. Last weekend, Urban Corps cleaned up the yard of one of the homes and carted away debris. Tomorrow, 50-plus volunteers will converge on the house to paint it and add finishing touches.

By drawing on a network of volunteers and partnering with community groups, the grassroots organization makes the most of limited resources with a limited-bureaucracy, bottom-up philosophy. The FCHSD program is unique in that no family can be too poor to receive aid. In its "Greater Blessing" program, the organization allows homeowners to pay back the cost of repairs without signing a contract, by paying as little or as much per month as they choose. FCHSD doesn't charge interest or require that the money be paid back.

The house after FCHSD renovations

Recipients of the center's aid are selected based on need, and Geisler is excited for an upcoming Barrio Logan project this fall. The homeowners have a 24-year-old son with cerebral palsy, and their home needs upgrades to make it more accessible.

"It's our priority project," Geisler said. "We'll renovate the house, and potentially create an add-on that's wheelchair-friendly."

FCHSD is just beginning fundraising for the project, which Geisler said has been "difficult but encouraging" over the last year, due to the downturn in the economy.

"People are willing to help out a little bit, so we're ramping up fundraising efforts at this point," he said. The organization also depends on a growing network of volunteers. The San Diego Bar Association has supplied many volunteers, and word of mouth is spreading.

"People love to come out and swing a hammer or dig a hole," Geisler said, laughing. "They may not want to do it at home, but if they're helping somebody, it's fun."

One of FCHSD's board members, Chris Scott, started Icology Group, another partner company. Scott, who previously brought IKEA stores to North America, took the same concept used for IKEA furniture---bring home a box, make your own table---and applied it to houses. He designed an eco-friendly house that can be built in a day for between $5,000 and $10,000. After building one at the Earth Day fair this year, Scott took the house down to Rosarito and erected it for a family the next day. FCHSD and Icology will be partnering to build more of the sustainable homes in Mexico (they're not yet approved for the United States).

Although Fuller passed away earlier this year, he's left a legacy of aid that continues on an international level. In other regions of America and the world, The Fuller Center for Housing works on providing safe, affordable housing for the estimated one billion people who live in substandard housing. The center has partners in 50 communities and 15 countries, basically going where they are asked to help.

"Their non-interest program gets a lot of kudos," Geisler said. Five years from now, he hopes that the "pay-it-forward" model will produce a sustained organization that has working relationships with cities, redevelopment agencies and other non-profits---an organization that is continually providing services to families who could never have afforded them on their own.

                                        

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