Olesons get keys to donated home
Nearly one year after the October 2007 wildfires that devastated the region, many families are still struggling to get back on their feet. That changed last week for one Ramona family of nine, who will be moving into their new house donated by Envision Homes in partnership with the Rock Church of San Diego.
At 10:30 a.m. on Sept. 26, a ribbon cutting ceremony took place at the newly completed home at 16572 Highland Trails Way, marking a new chapter in the lives of John and Adrienne Oleson and their seven children.
Greg Bradford, CEO of Envision Homes, and Miles McPherson, senior pastor of the Rock Church, made plans shortly after the 2007 wildfires to construct and donate a new house to a family left homeless by the firestorm.
“We hope to continue in the rebuilding efforts,” said McPherson, “first with a new house for the Olesons, and secondly by raising awareness for the numerous fire victims that have not fully recovered from their losses.”
The Olesons are longtime residents of Ramona who were between insurance policies when the fires swept through their neighborhood. A committee chose them to receive the free house based on overall need and their record of community service.
The new home, which is on the same site as the original house, has approximately 2,100 square feet of living space with four bedrooms, two and a half bathrooms, and a loft.
Bradford, who established Envision Homes in 2005 after a successful career as a builder in Central Valley, said he felt deeply moved by the devastation throughout Southern California last fall. He described being called by God to build a house for a family in need, despite the downturn in the housing market.
“We believe it is our responsibility as community leaders to help those in need and strive to build partnerships with the San Diego community to help people get back on their feet,” said Bradford, who established Envision Homes out of a desire to build affordable homes without sacrificing quality.
The organization is committed to excellence, and strives to serve the community through its philanthropic efforts, said Bradford.
Envision Homes was one of the first to respond to the wildfire rebuild efforts and continues to work toward meeting the needs of the many families affected.
More information is at www.EnvisionSD.com.
On Aug. 26, 2007, the Rock Church moved into its new home at Liberty Station in Point Loma, where Pastor McPherson is known for his “Do Something” approach to evangelism and ministry. During the October firestorm, the church was an evacuation site for fire victims, and then expanded to a fully functioning supply and distribution center due to the large amount of donations by the church and community members. Visit www.therocksandiego.org for more information.