Hundreds of volunteers keep Solano-Napa Habitat for
Humanity building homes
By Mike Danahey
With the housing market and the economy as they are, the work of Solano-Napa Habitat for Humanity (SNHFH) building homes with and for those in need is as important as it’s ever been.
“Escalating real estate prices, climbing interest rates and increases in the cost of building materials have only put homeownership even further out of reach for many local families, particularly the low-income families we serve,” said Andrew Killeen, the organization’s executive director.
“For Habitat, as a builder, the increasing costs of building materials are unavoidable, but our ability to partner with local government, corporate sponsors and individual donors helps us produce housing that is affordable to the low income families we serve.”
Habitat for Humanity generally provides its partner families with 0% interest loans, which helps keep housing solutions affordable to the families it serves.
Since forming 1991, SNHFH and its volunteers have built or repaired 51 homes with and for local low-income families. Currently, the nonprofit is repairing a mobile home in American Canyon and grading a site in Fairfield for building three single-family homes.
“On any given house, 500 or 600 construction volunteers would contribute several thousand hours of their time to help build the house,” Killeen said. “Volunteers include everyone from folks who have never hammered a nail before and who are taught onsite, to trained professionals.”
Among its projects, Habitat has provided two veterans’ residences, one in Dixon and the other in Rio Vista. They involved financial support from the County of Solano, the cities of Dixon and Rio Vista and non-profit partners for the projects — Community Action North Bay on the Dixon house and Berkeley Food & Housing Project and American Legion Post 178 on the Rio Vista house.
The veterans’ residences are owned and operated by CANB and BFHP. Affordable rent is ensured through deed restrictions which limit the veteran tenant’s rent to no more than 30% of their income.
Toward funding all its work, the ReStore in Fairfield is the organization’s single most important activity, with net proceeds supporting building efforts. Sales — but not profits — are booming, Killeen said.
“Early in the pandemic, a combination of folks doing a lot of spring cleaning, and not having much else to do, generated more donations (inventory) and introduced more new shoppers to our ReStore,” Killeen said. “As we grew to accommodate the higher volumes of inventory, so too did our donation procurement activity. One of our board members donated a second box truck to help us keep up with donation pickup requests.”
Still, with inflation, Habitat’s biggest challenges remain acquiring land to develop and raising the funds it needs to keep up with escalating building material costs, Killeen said.
Redesigned Best Western Plus Dixon/Davis upgrades stay for business or leisure
By Mike Danahey
The ownership group behind the Best Western Plus Dixon/Davis in 2022 marked being at the property for 30 years with a Chamber of Commerce celebration.
“We are active with the Chamber of Commerce in Dixon and Davis, a proud sponsor of the annual May Fair here in Dixon and offer the organization monthly meeting space,” said Pamela Davis, Director of Sales at the property.
During 2022, the owners renovated the pool and spa area at their boutique-style hotel, installed a new roof and upgraded landscaping. Reflecting today’s lifestyles, the Best Western offers smartly designed rooms and suites with kitchenettes, fitting for business, leisure, adventure and extended stays in the Sacramento Valley.
Guests can wake up to a complimentary breakfast to go, stay productive in business and meeting spaces, refresh in the outdoor pool or keep fit when they hit the gym.
Centrally located at 1345 Commercial Way, Dixon, the Best Western is not far from the UC Davis campus, the Dixon Fairgrounds and Vacaville Premium Outlets. The hotel is just a short drive from Old Sacramento, Six Flags the Discovery Kingdom and Mondavi Center for Performing Arts. Napa Valley Wine Country is less than an hour away, too.
Like most businesses and people, the Best Western has faced challenges brought on by the lingering COVID-19 pandemic, then inflation that followed.
“The industry was hit hard with covid restrictions and the residual viruses. Reports indicate that the hospitality industry will not rebound until 2024, when it will reach the 2019 peaks. Now the biggest concerns are the costs associated with inflation,” Davis said.
Davis said that with the hospitality industry still in recovery mode, rates and amenities such as free breakfast, shuttle service and points towards future stays are top priorities.
“One segment that remains steady and has seen growth is contractors working for themselves or associated with a larger company,” Davis said. “Travel industries such as vacations have been slow to bounce back and see growth.”
A sign of optimism is that occupancy has improved. Davis said the Best Western Plus Dixon/Davis is starting to see group sales pick up as sports such as pro soccer and basketball and college sports at UC Davis are back on the agenda.
With the bustle working at a hotel provides, Davis said she really enjoys her job.
“I love what I do, meeting people and fulfilling their needs for accommodations. Plus, we have a wonderful staff here at the Best West Plus Dixon/Davis property,” Davis said.
