Building Progress, New Beginnings, and a Major Milestone

As we enter the summer months and move closer to the finish line of our Blankenship Place project in downtown Sebastopol, we pause with gratitude as countless moving pieces come together all at once.

Over the past several weeks, our future homeowners have been hard at work completing their sweat equity hours and helping bring these homes to life. Together, we’ve been preparing the foundation for the garages and back patios, wrapping up interior details, and planning for upcoming work on backyard fencing, front porches, and landscaping. Every hour spent on site is part of the journey toward safe, stable, and affordable homeownership, and it has been inspiring to watch the progress take shape week by week. One of the most visible signs of that progress can be seen inside the homes themselves. While garage framing is underway, while our construction team has been busy installing flooring throughout each of the townhomes. Carpets are being installed first, followed by vinyl flooring. A special thank you goes to our construction team members Niko & Rick, whose hard work and dedication are helping move the project closer to the finish line each day.

We’re also pleased to officially welcome Gilberto to the Habitat team as our new Crew Lead! Gilberto first joined us as a volunteer through the Santa Rosa Junior College Construction Corps program. Months ago, he helped build the retaining wall and fence when the project site was still little more than a dirt lot. Since then, he has consistently demonstrated an outstanding work ethic, a willingness to learn, and a deep commitment to Habitat’s mission. We are excited to have him join our team and look forward to the contributions he will continue to make both on this project and future builds.

This season also brought an important milestone for one of our future homeowners. Kerrily has officially completed her sweat equity hours, marking a significant step on her path to homeownership. Throughout the process, Kerrily brought determination, enthusiasm, and a strong sense of community to the build site. She also rallied an impressive network of friends, family members, and coworkers from Sonoma County COTS to volunteer alongside her and her future neighbors. A Sonoma County native who grew up in Sebastopol, Kerrily has dedicated much of her career to supporting others through her work in the nonprofit sector. Now, she is building that same sense of stability and opportunity for her own family in the community she has long called home. Kerrily’s accomplishment reflects the perseverance, partnership, and hope that make Habitat’s homeownership program possible. We look forward to celebrating this milestone alongside her and her fellow homeowners at the Home Dedication this fall.

As construction continues, we remain deeply grateful for the volunteers, donors, partners, and future homeowners who make this work possible. The project is moving steadily forward, and we anticipate wrapping up by the end of August. We look forward to celebrating this milestone together at the Home Dedication!