Southwest Fresno Families Celebrate Their Self-Built Homes

Southwest Fresno Families Celebrate Their Self-Built Homes

Posted on April 30, 2025

On April 25, Self-Help Enterprises celebrated a major milestone in Southwest Fresno’s Annadale neighborhood: all 22 families participating in the Mutual Self-Help Housing (MSHH) Program have now completed construction on the homes they built themselves. The event brought together city leaders, partners, and community members to honor the families’ collective achievement and the successful completion of the full project. 

“This is about more than just homeownership—it’s about dignity, equity, and opportunity,” said Tom Collishaw, President and CEO of Self-Help Enterprises. “Today represents a monumental achievement for these families, and we are deeply grateful to our partners who helped turn their hopes into beautiful homes.” 

Support from the City of Fresno, including a $1.4 million contribution, played an important role in making this homeownership opportunity possible for the 22 families involved. 

 “From the moment I took office, housing has been one of the top priorities I addressed in my One Fresno vision, which seeks to make Fresno an inclusive, prosperous, and beautiful city,” said Mayor Jerry Dyer of the City of Fresno. “This project is the latest example of the impact of increasing our affordable housing pipeline by 1,644% over the past four years.  To facilitate this much housing in such a short period of time requires a tremendous amount of creativity, investment, and hard work.  This project exemplifies all of these qualities, combining the City’s $1.4 million contribution with other funds and thousands of hours of sweat equity to make ownership affordable for 22 families.  I am so proud of Self-Help Enterprises and celebrate the many ways these homes will change the lives of these families for generations to come.” 

Located near E. Annadale Ave and S. Elm Ave in the Annadale neighborhood—just steps from West Fresno Middle and Elementary Schools—these homes stand as a powerful symbol of grassroots development in a neighborhood that has long suffered from underinvestment. 

Southwest Fresno, a predominantly African American community in the heart of the San Joaquin Valley, has endured decades of neglect in housing and infrastructure development. This project marks a tangible step toward equity and long-term transformation. 

The families worked side-by-side under the guidance of SHE construction staff, contributing “sweat equity” through tasks like pouring foundations, framing walls, wiring, and painting. This hands-on approach not only helped reduce costs but also fostered a sense of shared responsibility and camaraderie among neighbors. 

“The completion of these 22 new homes at Annadale and Ivy marks a new chapter for Southwest Fresno, bringing long-time residents the opportunity for homeownership,” said Council Vice President Miguel Arias. “I am proud to have had the opportunity to work beside the neighbors last year, as we rolled up our sleeves pouring concrete, laying the foundation not only for their new homes, but for a bright future for generations to come, rooted right here in Southwest Fresno.”

The MSHH program empowers low-income families to collectively build homes, offering training and supervision from SHE. Instead of traditional down payments, participants invest their time and energy into every step of construction, strengthening both their homes and their community bonds. 

Siblings Esmeralda Melecio Lopez and Max Melesio Lopez shared their family’s journey to becoming homeowners. For them, the experience went far beyond construction. 

“We didn’t just build a house—we built a community and a future,” said Esmeralda. “We came into this with no experience, but with the support of people like Benny Zurita, our construction superintendent, we learned everything from the ground up. My family was my motivation. Their support kept me focused on the bigger picture and reminded me what we were working toward. I’m so grateful to Self-Help Enterprises—not just for helping us build a home, but for believing in us and guiding us every step of the way.” 

Families were also quick to recognize the support of SHE’s Construction Superintendent Benny Zurita, whose steady presence, patience, and guidance helped them learn new skills and stay motivated through every stage of the build. Many even invited him to join them in photos taken in front of their new homes—just one sign of the trust and gratitude that formed during the process.  

To overcome a challenging financing landscape and ensure these homes remained attainable, SHE partnered with Tri Counties Bank, which assisted in identifying downpayment assistance programs to bridge the funding gap and financed all 22 homes. 

“We are passionate about supporting affordable homeownership throughout California,” said Dyke Mundy, Vice President and Home Mortgage Sales Manager at Tri Counties Bank. “By partnering with Self-Help Enterprises, we are empowering Fresno residents with affordable financial opportunities and fostering long-term stability in our communities.” 

Tri Counties Bank played a critical role not only as a lender but as a committed financial partner, working with homeowners to qualify them for the Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco’s (FHLB San Francisco) WISH program. This was combined with other secondary financing from State HCD (CalHome), SHE Down Payment Assistance and sweat equity to make up the complete affordable funding package. The typical homebuyer received the following funding package beyond their primary mortgage to ensure affordability: 

• State CalHome: $100,000 
• FHLB San Francisco’s WISH Program: $29,000 
• SHE Down Payment Assistance: $10,000 
• Sweat Equity Contribution: Valued at $17,000 
• Tri Counties Bank Homeownership Access Program: up to $7,500 towards closing costs 

This innovative financing model allowed families to secure 30-year fixed-rate Fannie Mae loans averaging $174,000, well below current market prices, ensuring both affordability and long-term financial stability. 

The celebration is not just a milestone for the 22 families but also a testament to the scalability and equity-driven approach of this housing model. With continued partnerships and investment, Self-Help Enterprises continues to expand this transformative initiative to more communities in need, improving lives and building stronger neighborhoods across the San Joaquin Valley.