Habitat for Humanity searches for a ReStore location to take in and sell building materials

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - A search is on for a site that can serve as a Habitat for Humanity of Southern Santa Barbara County ReStore, a place to take in donations and then sell the useable building materials.

The prior store had to close its Goleta site in 2020 during the pandemic.

The staff is committed to reopening it, as soon as they can find a location.

When it is open, donations of lightly used or new, leftover building materials are available inside through the generosity of construction companies or a homeowner doing their own work. It keeps the materials removed from a worksite, such as items that come from a remodel, from ending up in a landfill.

"We sell those materials at a fraction of the retail price  and the proceeds go to funding our mission which is building and repairing homes all affordable," said Jessica de L'Arbre the CEO for Habitat for Humanity for Southern Santa Barbara County.

This can include windows, doors, plumbing, flooring, lighting fixtures, and even appliances. They are sold at a fraction of the full retail costs.

The Habitat for Humanity outreach effort has been part of building or repairing homes throughout Southern Santa Barbara County.

It is not operating at this time in Northern Santa Barbara County. There are reStore sites in San Luis Obispo and Oxnard. 

The new site needs to have a loading area, and enough size to handle multiple quantities of donations.

Lora Fisher is the ReStore Committee chair. She said, "ideally if we can find a space about 14,000 square feet with a loading dock, ideal to have some office space because we need some  office space for our habitat team."

They have been working with realtors and generous donors to find a site. "We really we are casting a message out to the community does someone know of a space,  does someone have an idea?  We would love to work with our community on this," said De L'Arbre.

"If you ask the team at Habitat, the number one phone call they get is where is the ReStore where can I drop off items that I want to donate? It is a great way to keep things our of the landfill and to recycle," said Fisher.

One contractor who has used the store before Ann Burgard with Burgard Building and Finishing said she has used the store before. "It was a great place that we could travel to and find the things that could be repurposed in the community which is really important, " she said.

Only a small supply garage is available now,  and a full store has proven to be cost effective for builders - especially if there's quality lightly used materials,  or someone looking for a donation write off.

"The cost of materials has been through the roof   and for the majority of materials it is staying there.   Fuels costs, everything is up.  It's up.   Something like the ReStore, you can repurpose something is like a thrift store it's beneficial in the pocketbook also. "

The staff is ready to fully run a ReStore if they get the right location. The Director of External Affairs Susan Renehan said, "we have done this before and we have the entire plan ready to go as soon as we find that perfect location, which we know is out there."

For more information go to: Habitat for Humanity of Southern Santa Barbara County.

track five

The staff is ready to fully run a ReStore if they get the right location.

Lora Fisher

ReStore Committee chair

"..if you ask the team at Habitat, the number one phone call they get is where is the ReStore where can I drop off items that I want to donate? .  it is a great way to keep things our of the landfill and to recycle"

Susan Renehan

Habitat for Humanity External affairs director

"..  we have done this before and we have the entire plan ready to go as soon as we find that perfect location. which we know is out there."