For many Camp Fire survivors in the weeks following the fire, there was uncertainty about rebuilding. For Charles Brooks, founder of the Rebuild Paradise Foundation, there was never a moment of doubt. The day after the start of the Camp Fire, he and his wife, Jen, were already beginning discussions about rebuilding their home. His passionate belief in the community of Paradise, and his ongoing work to restore the town, are now impacting thousands in an effort to rebuild the Ridge.
For Charles, the reasons to rebuild were many. He enjoys the natural beauty, the recreation opportunities, and the feeling of the community. It was what attracted his family to Paradise in 2004. Now with two boys, the Brooks family was active in the life of the Ridge community. However, the Camp Fire changed much of his family’s routine.
The initial financial response of generosity from individuals and organizations around the globe was incredibly impactful for the Paradise Ridge. “The world showed up for us,” Charles remarked of the months following the fire. However, the need is ongoing and will continue to take years to rebuild.
Following the events of November, Charles was in communication with Rebuild North Bay – an organization founded for long term development in the wake of the wildfires in Sonoma and Santa Rosa. Accessing the wisdom and lessons learned from another foundation, and incubated by the North Valley Community Foundation, the Rebuild Paradise Foundation was formed.
Their mission is to reestablish and develop the Paradise Ridge for residents and businesses. The foundation’s primary focus is currently on residents, as they hope to increase the population in Paradise, which will, in turn, attract more businesses. Through the use of grant funding made possible through the Paradise Rotary Foundation, Charles and his team is able to develop projects impacting local residents and lowering the barriers to entry for residents to rebuild and return to the Ridge.
The Paradise Rotary Foundation has awarded three grants to make possible a variety of resident-specific projects. The initiatives include the Welcome to Paradise signs, the Residential Floor Plan Library, and the Missing Middle Grant Program.
The Welcome to Paradise sign grant allowed for the production and installation of two temporary signs leading into the town of Paradise. Located on Skyway and Clark, the signs communicate the rebuilding effort and reflect the positive changes happening in the community.
The Residential Floor Plan Library is a digital collection of pre-drawn floor plans available to residents seeking a rebuild. The library connects rebuilders to architects, designers, or engineers, who can offer specific customizations according to the property on which the structure is to be built. The templated floor plans reduce the total cost for the potential homeowner and help streamline the process of a rebuild. Currently, two floor plans are available in the library with five more being developed, to be available by the end of 2020.
Beyond the creation of a floor plan, the rebuilding process includes many other reconstruction hurdles including the clearing of debris, replacement or repair of water systems, resurveying property, topography studies, and septic replacement or repair. The cost of construction is now 30% higher than it was before the Camp Fire and there is an evident need among residents for the defrayal of costs.
Many of residents are included in what the Rebuild Paradise Foundation calls the “Missing Middle”. These are lower to middle income individuals who have income above subsidy levels but have financial means below the market rate. Among these individuals are fixed-income seniors, single parents, and service workers. To address this need, the Paradise Rotary Foundation awarded a grant in the amount of $150,000, which will be dispersed to the Missing Middle over an estimated 12 to 18 months. By offsetting the cost of pre-construction hurdles, Charles and his team hope to help people bring back community on the Paradise Ridge.
The Rebuild Paradise Foundation is taking a long-term approach with each project they start, and planning for 10, 15, or even 20 years from today. Charles looks forward to seeing an increase in the town’s population and the ongoing return of a vibrant community life on the Ridge. The Rebuild Paradise Foundation diverts no funds from incoming grants to operations, resulting in the highly efficient use and impact of the grants received.
To date, the Paradise Rotary Foundation has awarded $158,907 to the Rebuild Paradise Foundation, as made possible from the generosity of worldwide donors and community members. Thank you for your continued support.
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