Habitat for Humanity plans Carter rural rally on Pine Street, seeks volunteers and city support

Camille Benner, director of family services at Habitat for Humanity Yuba Sutter, told the Marysville City Council that Habitat will host a Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter rural rally on Pine Street and will use volunteer labor and donations to rehabilitate a vacant house and perform exterior improvements along the block.

Benner said the affiliate is not requesting city funding for the project. “I want to let you know that we are not here requesting funding,” she said, and described the event as a community-engagement and fundraising effort that also aims to showcase the area's capacity to host national Habitat activities.

The event will center on work at properties on and near Pine Street, with the primary house identified in the presentation as 426 Pine Street. Habitat plans exterior painting, tree trimming, landscaping and debris removal across the block; the group also intends to fully rehab the interior of the primary house so it can become owner-occupied in time for the holidays. Benner estimated the gross cost of the site project at about $200,000 and said volunteers will be asked to raise roughly $500 each to help cover event costs.

Benner said Habitat will run a short application period for prospective homeowners following the event, with applications open the first of November through Nov. 15 and a homeowner to be announced by Dec. 1. She described the house as about 1,021 square feet, two bedrooms and one bath, and said the selection committee will pick an eligible low-income applicant. Benner described Habitat's lending model for repairs as an internal 0% loan program where repayments replenish the repair fund and enable future work.

Council members and the mayor praised the volunteer-driven approach. Council member Gilchrist showed a conceptual watercolor of a revitalized Pine Street and discussed historic naming for the block. Benner asked the city for "political will" and help with road closures, permits and coordination, and suggested the possible use of CalWORKs crews to assist during tree trimming and debris work. She said Habitat has some grants pending and corporate sponsors, and that fundraisers and in-kind donations (paint and materials) will lower the cash required.

Benner invited council members and residents to the project's kickoff ceremony, scheduled for noon Oct. 26, and said volunteers and donors can sign up via habitat.org's Rural Rally page.

The council did not take formal action on the project during the meeting. Council members asked follow-up questions about income limits and eligibility: Benner said income limits vary by household size and that, for a family of four, the program's upper qualification threshold is about $74,000.