San Gabriel Valley Habitat for Humanity building ADUs in 10-day blitz

San Gabriel Valley Habitat for Humanity (SGV Habitat) last week announced its new program to help low-income homeowners add an accessory dwelling unit (ADU) to their property to provide an affordable rental for a low-income household. Their program offers a zero-interest construction loan with SGV Habitat serving as the contractor for the project.

This opportunity comes at a time when many Californians are finding that an affordable home is becoming harder than ever to come by, and as ADUs are increasing in popularity across the state.

According to a recent report by the California Housing Partnership, the state needs to build 1.2 million affordable homes to meet the needs of low-income renters. However, nationwide median rent in the United States increased by 22 percent in the five years between 2016 and 2021, while median household incomes increased by only 15 percent during the same period.

“The need for affordable housing in the area is overwhelming and opportunities like adding ADUs to communities allow families to stay in neighborhoods they grew up in and helps aging adults stay close to their support systems,” says SGV Habitat CEO Bryan Wong. “Since I started this job in 2021 it has been my goal to dramatically increase the number of affordable dwellings in the San Gabriel Valley and this is just one way we are doing that.”

Housing advocates have long touted ADUs as a solution to shortages and rising living costs. ADUs (small rental units that can be added to existing properties and ease housing shortages) are at the forefront of the efforts to supply more affordable units. ADUs are an attractive option because these units are affordable to construct, quick to build and generate revenue to the homeowner.

Through Friday SGV Habitat will showcase their ADU program as a 3-bedroom, 2-bathroom ADU home is built in partnership with a local Baldwin Park family. Hundreds of volunteers will assist with the project including individuals from throughout the San Gabriel Valley and groups from the Western States Regional Council of Carpenters, Southern California Edison, San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) and others.

Those interested in volunteering can learn more and sign up at https://sgvhabitat.org/volunteer/blitz-build/.