Take a look at our latest projects, participant testimonials, and legacy.
This video celebrates the 60th anniversary of Self-Help Enterprises, highlighting our journey from building the first self-help homes to impacting over 70,000 families. Through programs like Mutual Self-Help Housing, Housing Rehabilitation, Rental Housing, Permanent Supportive Housing, Community Development and Emergency Services, we’ve stayed true to our mission of working together with families to build stronger communities. Join us as we reflect on six decades of progress and look ahead to the future.
Get a quick glimpse into the heart of Self-Help Enterprises’ 60-year journey. This shortened version of our full-length documentary captures the highlights—from the first six self-built homes to the thousands of families and communities we’ve served across the San Joaquin Valley.
For the full story, watch the full documentary above.
Self-Help Enterprises can make the dream of becoming a homeowner a reality for low-income families in the San Joaquin Valley. Through our program, eight to twelve families are grouped together and agree to help each other build their houses with skilled onsite supervision and guidance of Self-Help Enterprises construction staff. Edgar and Crystal Cabrera share their experience on building their own home alongside their neighbors.
"It's very special because our hands are going in the house. Having your neighbors help you, that builds relationships. You get to know your neighbors." - Crystal Cabrera, Mutual Self-Help Housing Participant in Reedley
Homeownership enables the advancement of entire communities and helps families build wealth and financial security for future generations! Multiple families come together to build their homes through our Mutual Self-Help Housing program, sharing labor with one another to accomplish a group goal.
We develop quality affordable rental apartments with robust services to serve the housing needs of valley residents, farm workers, and other underserved communities who often face overcrowding, regularly paying more than they can afford for substandard homes.
Our Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) program reserves multiple new units for people experiencing homelessness, making our rental communities an immediate housing-first solution. We provide them with supportive services to ensure they can thrive in their new home.
Preservation of existing owner-occupied housing is an essential part of our homeownership efforts, in many cases targeting homes that were never built to a reasonable standard.
Our Community Development team serves as a bridge between communities and the financial and professional resources needed to improve their living conditions.
Our emergency services team provides our communities with direct responses during natural disasters, including the pandemic, drought, floods, and wildfire.
In 1963, the American Friends Service Committee partnered with several Tulare County farmworker families to finance and build the country’s first self-help homes, and in 1965 Self-Help Enterprises was incorporated as the first rural, self-help housing organization in the United States.
That same year, sixty years ago, this film was made featuring six farmworker families engaged in building their own safe, affordable homes. It showcased the unique approach that our founders took – one where we work together with low-income families, rather than for them. Little did our founders know that their humble beginnings would lay the foundation for a nationally recognized community development organization that would touch the lives of over 70,000 families over the course of six decades.