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Self-Help Housing allows families to use their "sweat equity" as the down payment on the new home that they otherwise could not afford. Self-Help Enterprises pioneered the concept of organized mutual self-help housing construction in the United States. With skilled onsite supervision of SHE construction staff, families participate directly in the construction of their own homes. The cost savings –"sweat equity" -provides the down payment on each home.
The participation of SHE in the process is from start to finish. In predevelopment, staff works to market the program, provide homeownership training, develop building groups into effective teams, and assist eligible families in the submission of loan applications. Most often, mortgage loans are secured from the USDA's Rural Economic and Community Development Services (RECDS) , the federal agency which also finances the costs of SHE's technical assistance. SHE also coordinates financing through California Housing Finance Agency (CHFA), state programs, and local redevelopment agencies to assist additional homebuilders. Generally, 10 to 12 families are formed into a group which pools its labor and elects its own leadership. During the typical eight-month construction period, families dig and form their foundations, pour and finish the concrete, frame the houses and install doors, windows, electrical wiring and cabinets, lay floor tile and paint inside and out. To be eligible, families must have a good employment history, clean credit, and the ability and willingness to meet the labor requirements. House plans are modest yet attractive, ensuring that participating homebuilders invest their labor and money into a home which will hold its value. SHE’s land development activities have been critical to the consistent production of self-help housing. In most cases, SHE obtains raw land and develops it into building lots, working with local jurisdictions on land use issues, environmental requirements, and mitigation of impacts ranging from traffic to schools. Each selected site must also be approved by the appropriate public and private lenders. To date, SHE has been the primary developer of over 70 subdivisions. Through the self-help housing program, SHE is able to help over 150 low-income families a year realize what once seemed an impossible dream - living in a home of their own. Common Questions & Answers About Self-Help Housing (English) Preguntas Y Respuestas Comunes Sobre Viviendas De Ayuda-Mutua (Español) For more information please contact us: Tel. (559) 651-1000 or e-mail info@selfhelpenterprises.org |
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