The road home for three future Simi Valley families has been longer than anticipated due to delays in the community's Habitat for Humanity project.

The nonprofit Christian housing organization, which began in Georgia in 1976, first announced its intentions to bring affordable homes to Simi Valley in 2003. The project has cleared all the bumps in the road in regard to permits, but has yet to begin construction or select the three families who will be invited to live in the new houses.

"We had a bit of a delay in that the contracts with the city were written so long ago that some issues related to the contracts arose," said Scott Kuklin, a local resident and project manager for Habitat for Humanity. "We've resolved those issues, and grading for the project should begin very shortly."

The organization plans to build three 1,200squarefoot, threebedroom residences on a parcel of land located at the corner of Royal and Sequoia avenues.

"These homes will most likely end up looking better than the homes that are there now. Most of the homes in the area are 20 to 30 years old, but these will be brand new," Kuklin said.

According to Habitat for Humanity officials, the homes are not given to the selected residents. The families, whose income must be at 30 percent or less of the county's median income, are required to pay off a loan of $100,000 and to contribute 500 hours of volunteer work, ranging from carpentry to electrical wiring, to the construction of their homes.

Because the panel in charge of selecting the families was not satisfied with the first turnout of applicants, according to Kuklin, the group is currently in the planning phases of a second interview process.

Applicants for the housing are interviewed in a thorough process that includes a visit to their current residences. Also, the panel must feel assured that the families will be able to pay off the initial loan.

"We set our payments over a long period to make sure that they're kept low. We never want to have someone default, and if a family hits a rough spot, we'll usually work with them to help them get through it," Kuklin said.

While early concerns about the project whittled its original size from six to three homes, the city and its residents are very much behind it, according to Kuklin.

"At first there was a lot of negative feedback, but I've been going to all the neighborhood council meetings, and no one is complaining about it now," Kuklin said.

In fact, the project has drawn quite the opposite response, with local businesses happily donating large sums to help with its financing. According to Habitat for Humanity officials, Starbucks has sponsored the cost of an entire home, while other groups such as Simi Valley Interface and the Simi Valley Board of Realtors have made large monetary donations.

"Waste Management has also donated their services by removing all the trash from the site free of charge," Kuklin said.

Still, the organization is always ready to accept additional help. Volunteers, especially individuals trained in electric or construction work, are at the top of Habitat's wish list.

"We're definitely in need of trained professionals such as plumbers, framers and electricians, not to do the work but to help oversee it," Kuklin said. "There is always something you can learn from a professional."

Those interested in volunteering should call the local Habitat office at (805) 485-6065.

"If someone asks how we solve the world's problems of hunger and homelessness," Kuklin said, "Habitat for Humanity's answer is 'one house at a time.'"

The organization estimates that the project will be completed and the families moved in by the end of next year.