You’re Invited: Homeownership Celebration Event

You’re Invited: Homeownership Celebration Event

Posted on May 21, 2015

Self-Help Enterprises and dozens of other organizations across the country, in partnership with the National Rural Self-Help Housing Association and the USDA Rural Development, celebrate the 50th year and the building of the 50,000th home in America since the inception of the Mutual Self-Help Housing Program.

Self-Help Enterprises will hold a celebration event in conjunction with NeighborWorks Week and National Homeownership Month on June 8th, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m., at 412 Capistrano Street in Arvin, CA where 20 families are currently building their new, safe, affordable homes. This community event will include a wall raising and a catered lunch. We are honored to have in attendance Congressman David Valadao, USDA Rural Housing Services Administrator Tony Hernandez, NeighborWorks America Pacific Director Senior Relationship Manager Joe Dabek, and Arvin Mayor Jose Flores.

Since 1965, when Self-Help Enterprises pioneered the mutual self-help housing program, the organization has helped more than 6,100 families in the San Joaquin Valley build their own homes and achieve the American dream of homeownership. The single-family, energy-efficient homes are all built under the USDA Rural Development mutual self-help housing program, with homeowners providing over 70 percent of the construction labor. Groups of 9 to 12 participants are formed to construct the homes over a 9 to 12 month period. With the help of family and friends, each participant must contribute a minimum of 40 hours per week toward completion of all the homes in the group. Self-Help Enterprises’ emphasis on sustainable homeownership, combined with counseling and education, an affordable mortgage, and “sweat equity” down payment has resulted in successful homeownership for these hardworking families.

Throughout NeighborWorks Week and National Homeownership Month, Self-Help Enterprises highlights the important role that home plays for families and the neighborhoods where they live. During NeighborWorks Week (June 6 – 14), more than 240 chartered member organizations around the U.S. and their local communities come together with a focus on neighborhood improvement and supporting homeownership. NeighborWorks Week is sponsored by NeighborWorks America®, a national leader in affordable housing and community development.

Each year, USDA Rural Development’s National Homeownership Month celebrations honor new homeowners and recognize partners that help make homeownership a reality. Through the partnership between Self-Help Enterprises’ housing programs and USDA Rural Development programs, rural residents are able to buy, refinance and repair homes. Since 1949, USDA Rural Development has helped nearly 3.4 million rural homebuyers achieve the dream of homeownership.

Together, Self-Help Enterprises, the National Rural Self-Help Housing Association, USDA Rural Development, and NeighborWorks America® support affordable, rural homeownership, and sustainable communities.