Anonymous
Source: Habitat for Humanity
Habitat for Humanity of Southern Santa Barbara County (Habitat Santa Barbara) will close the ReStore, the nonprofit’s retail arm, as part of a larger strategy to best position the organization to focus on affordable housing and minimize the retail operation’s financial losses caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. As a part of the store’s closure, Habitat Santa Barbara will host a clearance sale from August 6- August 16, which will take place from 9am – 4pm daily.
The staff, working alongside the Board of Directors and the finance committee, made the determination to close the ReStore so that Habitat’s housing-focused mission can continue in a sustainable way. “The closing of our ReStore, a difficult yet necessary decision, will position Habitat Santa Barbara to sharpen its focus on housing, while optimizing fundraising in other ways to support this critical work. This pivot will allow our 20-year history to continue so that we can keep building homes, communities, and hope.”
The ReStore opened in Goleta in 2012 and provided the community with a resource to donate and buy new and gently used items at a fraction of the retail price. All retail sales benefited the mission of Habitat Santa Barbara and served to partially fund its work in affordable housing. “While we know this decision impacts the community in many ways, we are grateful to have reactivated our home repair program safely and will continue to explore how to best address the permanent housing needs of our local community – especially in light of the interconnectedness between health and housing,” shares Wishan.
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the community’s need for safe and affordable homes has grown. With the increase in stay at home orders and more time spent at home, coupled with the financial strain felt across Santa Barbara communities, Habitat is receiving increased requests for home repair assistance. Habitat Santa Barbara’s staff and volunteers continue to work to meet the diverse needs of its neighborhoods.
The ReStore clearance sale will be conducted in compliance with COVID-19 health and safety guidelines. Face masks and gloves will be required for anyone entering the building. The ReStore is located at 6860 Cortona Drive, Suite A, Goleta, CA. Entrance to the store, as well as parking, is located at the rear of the building. For more details on the sale, please visitwww.sbhabitat.org or follow us on social media at @sbhabitat.
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