EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE
It’s exciting to leap into 2024 as a year of building for Our Town St. Helena (OTSH), which takes on many forms.
Building on Our Momentum
After several years of predevelopment work and assembling multiple funding sources, this year OTSH will begin constructing 9 new rental apartments in St. Helena! It has taken a lot of hard work, tenacity, strategic partnerships, and community support to get here. (See Pope Street article below.)
Building Our Capacity
We set a high bar for our 2023 End of Year Appeal of $250,000 and we cleared it! We are extremely grateful to our very generous donors in St. Helena and beyond, including some out-of-state donors who believe in our mission. These dollars will support our operations, strategic planning and implementatio
n to ensure OTSH can fulfill its mission and achieve its goals now and in the future.
Building Our Board of Directors
Welcome to our two newest board members, Walter Nirenberg and Barry J. Shotts. Both come to the board with fresh energy and diverse backgrounds and will be a nice complement to the current mix. Read more about Walter and Barry here. Jordan Bentley who served as board president (2022-2023) passed the gavel to 2024 Board President Daniel Hale. President-elect Polly Ogden, Treasurer Mike Chisek, and Secretary Michael Caldarola round out the board’s executive committee. The board will finalize its strategic plan next month to guide OTSH through the coming years of sustainable growth and
continued high-quality service.
Building Our Volunteer Network
Thank you to our volunteers who stand at the ready to help with a multitude of tasks. It has been a pleasure meeting and getting to know you better. If you would like to volunteer with OTSH, send me an email at jennifer@ourtownsthelena.org.
Building and Preserving Homes – Our Mission
OTSH has 60 affordable homes in its planning pipeline, with a goal to provide “105 by 2035” through new construction and preservation. This will not be easy, but we are up to the challenge, and with continued support from our team, boar
d, strategic partners, donors, and volunteers, we believe we can do it!
– Jennifer La Liberte, Executive Director
Pope Street Workforce Housing – Building Begins in 2024!
While we still have several hoops to jump through, OTSH and its partner, Napa Valley Community Housing (NVCH), are racing to the finish line with project financing so we can break ground later this year on Phase 1 (963 Pope Street)! The date is uncertain so stay tuned for that announcement.
For Phase 2 (951 Pope Street), OTSH is embarking on a fundraising effort with the goal of utilizing only private loans, grants and donations (no public funds) to accelerate the process so we can build the second phase in concert with the first phase. This approach will ensure economies of scale for the project and minimize disruption in the neighborhood. Our goal is to raise $2.3 million in private donations by the end of 2024, secure a conventional bank loan and fill any gap with private grants.
Citizen of the Year
Our Town St. Helena would not be here without John Sales, the St. Helena Chamber of Commerce’s “2023 Citizen of the Year.” John co-founded OTSH, served as its treasurer for more than a decade, and managed many of the development and financial details of the Brenkle Court project. This was a major undertaking, particularly for someone who volunteers for multiple other organizations in town.
Congratulations, John! This accolade is so well-deserved!
The Positive Influence of Affordable Housing on Health
Housing that’s affordable is not just a roof over one’s head; it’s a cornerstone of health and well-being. Learn how accessible housing can positively impact mental and physical health, and foster vibrant local communities.
St. Helena’s Brenkle Court Residents Start a Soccer Team!
They teamed up to help build each other’s homes—now they’ve teamed up to score some goals.
Food for Thought: “Can We Get An Amen for Housing?”
Our strategic partner Napa Valley Community Foundation recently hosted an event to learn about and explore the potential for workforce housing located on properties owned by faith-based organizations.
If you would like to read more or watch a recording of the event…
Our Town St. Helena is funded by community donations and grants. 100% of all donations are used for educating the community on the need and identifying and developing a variety of housing opportunities to keep local workers, young families and seniors in our town.
