Skylight Homes Begins Construction in Santa Maria
Eligible agricultural workers can join the interest list for 16 reserved Phase I homes in this 49-home subdivision.
Updated on Nov. 1, 2026 in Residential
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People's Self-Help Housing has begun construction on Skylight Homes, a 49-home single-family subdivision at 3170 Santa Maria Way in Santa Maria, built in two phases. Phase I includes 24 homes, with 16 designated for eligible agricultural workers through the FWHG program.
Why it matters
Each home includes a two-car attached garage, private driveways and yards, energy-efficient appliances, solar, and homeowner's association membership, with an average construction cost of about $700,000 per home. For Santa Maria families, the project offers a new path to ownership in a community where housing costs are a central concern, and it is financed through the HCD Joe Serna Jr. Farmworker Housing Program and the New Markets Tax Credit Program.
Phase I includes 24 homes, 16 of which are reserved for eligible agricultural workers through the FWHG program, with each of those buyers contributing 150 hours of self-help construction. Homes carry an average construction cost of about $700,000, and buyers can receive up to $250,000 in mortgage assistance.
The players
People's Self-Help Housing
A nonprofit housing developer that builds affordable homeownership communities for working families in California's Central Coast.
The details
Interested buyers must sign up for the project's interest list and attend a mandatory Agricultural Worker Project Presentation. Non-designated homes are capped at buyers earning up to 80% of the Area Median Income for Santa Barbara County. Skylight Homes is financed through the HCD Joe Serna Jr. Farmworker Housing Program and the New Markets Tax Credit Program, and first mortgages are projected to average $424,000.
Timeline
Spring 2028: estimated completion of Skylight Homes Phase I.
The Home Front
Skylight Homes is financed through the HCD Joe Serna Jr. Farmworker Housing Program, a state program that funds housing for agricultural workers. The project also uses the New Markets Tax Credit Program to support construction costs.
If you work in agriculture in Santa Maria or Santa Barbara County, check whether you qualify for the 16 Phase I homes designated for eligible agricultural workers, which require 150 hours of self-help construction. Buyers of non-designated homes should confirm they fall under the 80% AMI income cap before planning a purchase.
The takeaway
Income limits and self-help hour requirements determine eligibility, so review them carefully before signing up. Gather documentation of your income and work history early, and keep your interest list confirmation on file.
What happens next
Interested buyers must sign up for the interest list and attend a mandatory Agricultural Worker Project Presentation before applying.
Further reading
For more on the local housing market, explore Santa Maria Residential coverage.
More information
Find project details and FAQs on the Skylight Homes project details and FAQs page.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Edhat Santa Barbara.
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