HOME PRESERVATION
Our Home Preservation program is about restoring neighborhoods one home at a time, through simple acts
of kindness.
We work to maintain the affordable housing stock and to allow seniors to age in place.
Our Home Preservation Program strengthens housing stability, safety, and community pride by ensuring homes remain safe, healthy, and resilient, preserving long-term affordability and enhancing neighborhood vitality across San Luis Obispo County.
AGING
IN
PLACE
Our program helps older adults remain safe and independent in their homes by providing accessibility modifications, safety enhancements, and essential repairs. These improvements support mobility, reduce fall risks, and enhance overall quality of life. Examples of our work include installing wheelchair ramps and widening doorways for accessibility, adding grab bars and non-slip flooring in bathrooms, improving interior and exterior lighting, upgrading kitchen counters and cabinets for safe and easy use, replacing doorknobs with levers, removing fall hazards, and even offering landscaping clean-up and zero-scaping to create safer outdoor spaces.
CRITICAL
HOME
REPAIR
We address urgent health and safety issues in owner-occupied homes by providing substantial repairs that restore habitability, prevent further deterioration, and protect long-term housing stability for low-income households. Our work also incorporates defensible space improvements—such as vegetation management and fire-resistant landscaping—to reduce wildfire risk and safeguard homes in vulnerable areas. Typical projects include sealing air leaks and adding weather stripping to doors and windows, replacing broken or inefficient windows with energy-efficient models, upgrading aging hot water systems, cleaning gutters, trimming trees, removing excess vegetation, and repairing or replacing exterior siding or trim to prevent moisture intrusion, dry rot, and pest damage. Please note that our scope of work does not include foundation or structural repairs, or roof repairs.
A BRUSH WITH KINDNESS RESTORATION
We strengthen neighborhoods and preserve community pride by providing exterior home improvements that enhance curb appeal, prevent decay, and encourage positive community engagement. Projects may include repainting home exteriors to protect against weather damage, replacing broken shutters or repairing trim, planting drought-tolerant and low-maintenance landscaping, repairing and repainting fences, and replacing damaged front steps or porches to improve both safety and appearance. These improvements not only revitalize individual homes but also uplift the entire neighborhood.
HOME MAINTENANCE EDUCATION
We equip homeowners with the knowledge and skills needed to perform routine upkeep, identify potential problems early, and extend the life of their homes—ensuring the long-term impact of Habitat’s preservation efforts. This support may include hands-on workshops covering seasonal home maintenance tasks, fire safety education with a focus on maintaining defensible space, personalized home maintenance walkthroughs with tailored checklists, and guidance on energy efficiency practices that help reduce costs while preserving vital home systems. By empowering homeowners with these tools, we help protect both their investment and their peace of mind.
We work to assist homeowners in need, allowing them to remain safely in their homes.
Often, these homeowners can make their monthly mortgage payment but do not have additional funds available for basic home maintenance or safety improvements.
Qualified applicants will be able to provide the following information with their application:
- Proof of ownership showing name and address of applicant (for example a deed on the home or property tax receipt).
- A copy of applicant’s homeowner’s insurance declarations page, or a copy of a recent insurance bill.
- Applicants will show income within very-low to low income per household size according to the San Luis Obispo Affordable Housing Standard limits. All adults living in the house who are over the age of 18 must submit an income document (or prove current student status) showing name and address. Income verification must include a copy of the most recent tax return AND one or more of the following, as applicable: monthly social security receipts, other retirement income receipts, employment check stubs, and/or benefits for children.
- Be willing and able to partner with Habitat by providing sweat equity toward the project. Sweat equity includes working with the volunteers on the repairs of your home. Seniors and persons with serious medical conditions may complete this requirement by doing alternative activities such as signing in volunteers or providing water and snacks.
- Applicants must have owned and occupied their homes for at least two (2) consecutive years prior to the application and will continue to live there for a minimum of two (2) years after the repairs.
Submit your Home Preservation Application today to begin the process.
Applications for our Home Preservation program are always accepted; there is no application period or deadline.
Complete the following form to start the process today.
Would you rather support this program as a volunteer? Click below for more information on volunteering with us.