Wasco Community Built on a Shared Vision for Homeownership

Wasco Community Built on a Shared Vision for Homeownership

Posted on October 12, 2018

For Edgar and Naomi Bermudez, building their home in the excruciating summer months has been the most challenging part.  Edgar, a full-time motor man for Golden State Drilling and Naomi, a licensed cosmetologist, are part of the Wasco 13 construction project that is expected to conclude in January 2019. Edgar and Naomi began building their house back in February of this year, together with nine other families. In four short months, everyone in the cohort will move into an entirely new community that was built on rock-solid commitment and a shared vision for homeownership. Currently, Edgar, Naomi and their two daughters (2 years and 8 months) rent a place from family and eagerly look forward to having a home of their own. For them, the entire experience has been life-changing, one that they will remember for the rest of their lives. They especially look forward to telling their daughters that “mommy and daddy built their home.”

Wasco 13 is one of several active Self-Help home construction projects where 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. The homes are built under the mutual self-help method of construction where each family is required to contribute a minimum of forty hours a week working on all the homes for a period of nine to twelve months. “I love the fact that we got to meet all our neighbors and work with them” said Naomi. “We are all good friends now and we will grow up together watching our kids grow and play together.”

Per program guidelines, family hours can be provided by the owners-to-be, any household member 16 years of age or older and approved helpers. Considering their varied schedules, having other approved family members available to help has made a huge difference for Edgar and Naomi. “With two baby girls, it has been difficult to go work on the houses full-time since I had to wait until my mom was out of work for me to go in. And with my husband working a different schedule every week, it has been very difficult to complete our forty hours,” said Naomi.  “But somehow every week we have managed to complete our hours. Thank God for our helpers helping out when they could. That has made our weeks go by much more smoothly.”

Overall, Edgar and Naomi feel that the Self-Help program is a great opportunity for families who are ready to invest in homeownership but have difficulties finding a home they can afford. “I am so glad that I learned about the program,” said Naomi.

Visit our website for more information about our self-help housing program.