Volunteering With Habitat for Humanity Sonoma
One of the things that has become particularly important to Coar Design Group (formerly known as JKA) over the last several years is to take the knowledge that we have as architects and problem solvers and try to, in a very personal way, give back to our own communities. JKA was quick to respond to Habitat’s request for assistance after the fires because of the incredible devastation in Sonoma, from friends who lost their homes, to businesses directly impacted by the loss of visitors. Recognizing that we have the ability to lend a hand to help was very important and the connection with Habitat will continue.
JKA has been asked to participate on a Task Force on “Industrialized Residential Construction” (IRC). The basis of the task force is, Habitat Sonoma has built 40 homes in the 35 years of their existence. Their goal is to build 600 homes in the next 5 years. How can this be accomplished? Recognizing the incredible housing shortage (not unique to Sonoma, but exacerbated by the fires), Habitat decided something had to change. They have acquired 60,000 SF of space (30,000 Sf of warehouse and 30,000 SF of yard area) to create essentially a warehouse to store and create building components. They are working with local developers to “take over” the developers affordable housing components of their development and are working on ways to expedite the construction of these new homes. The role of the task force is to determine how best to streamline the process of getting these homes built quickly, while continuing to utilize Habitats core volunteer workforces.
This relationship with Habitat would not have happened without the willingness of our staff to dedicate their own time to creating the plans for the Habitat/Graton Community project. The physical help of the JKA team has helped move these houses one step closer to reality for the young families who will occupy them.
