Self-Help Enterprises
Victoria Ortiz is a Water Quality Specialist at Self-Help Enterprises, responsible for installing monitoring probes in groundwater wells and collaborating with stakeholders across the Central Valley to collect data on groundwater levels. Previously, Victoria worked as a Fitness Assistant at UCSB Recreation, ensuring effective use of exercise equipment while maintaining health and safety standards. Additional experience includes an internship at the Santa Barbara Wildlife Care Network, assisting veterinary technicians with wildlife care, and a role as a Retail Sales Associate at Gap, where inventory organization and merchandise display were key responsibilities. Victoria also served as a Parking Services Representative at UC Santa Barbara, gaining familiarity with parking structures and regulations. Victoria holds a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Studies from UC Santa Barbara.
Self-Help Enterprises
Self-Help Enterprises (SHE) is a nationally recognized community development organization whose mission is to work together with low-income families to build and sustain healthy homes and communities. The pioneer and leading provider of mutual self-help housing in the United States, SHE’s efforts today encompass a range of efforts to build better homes and communities for farmworkers and other hard working families. In the past 50 years, SHE has helped more than 6,000 families to build their own homes, rehabilitated over 6,000 unsafe homes, developed over 1,300 units of affordable rental housing and has provided technical assistance for reliable access to safe drinking water and sanitary sewer infrastructures to more than 100 small communities. SHE’s commitment to providing resources and training for individuals builds capacity of highly effective leaders in communities that also promote collaborative solutions for improving communities. These combined efforts have touched the lives of over 50,000 families, providing security and stability for families and building strong, healthy and sustainable communities. Services: ~ Self-Help Housing: With skilled onsite supervision, families participate directly in the construction of their own homes. The cost savings –"sweat equity" provides the down payment on the new home that they otherwise could not afford. ~ Multi-Family Housing (MFH): MFH is a way to meet the need for affordable housing. Resident services are offered including afterschool programs, adult education classes, & computer literacy classes. ~ Homebuyer Program: SHE provides assistance for families wishing to become homeowners through traditional avenues. ~ Community Development: Provides human resources & the technical assistance necessary for small towns to develop adequate water delivery & wastewater disposal systems. ~ Housing Rehabilitation: SHE operates a rehabilitation program to preserve & improve the existing stock of housing.