The Ownby Home Newly Rehabilitated

The Ownby Home Newly Rehabilitated

Posted on September 30, 2021

Mary and Ray Ownby purchased their Madera home back in 1988, where they raised a beautiful family. “We loved to travel when the kids were young,” said Mary. “My children loved things like deep sea fishing and spending the night in a hotel room, that was fun for us.”

Mary and Ray married when they were in their late teens. Ray was in the military where he served 8 years. He “drove and worked on tanks,” said Mary.  It was clear that Ray had a passion for driving large vehicles. Upon leaving the military, he started his career as a bus driver for Greyhound. He later pivoted to driving private charter buses and would spend the next 40 plus years doing so. Mary, on the other hand, worked several years for the City of Madera as a senior site supervisor for the Parks and Recreation Department.

Over the years, however, their home began to deteriorate. The floors had cracks, doors were broken, the roof was weathered. It was time for a facelift. Most importantly, it was time to make it safe and functional.

Now in a wheelchair, Mary found it challenging to move around her home with ease. “I knew of Self-Help Enterprises because my father used to work there many, many years ago, so we knew that they could help,” said Mary. “We’ve been out of our home for 3 months and it hasn’t been easy, but we look forward to just coming back, settling in and relaxing.”

The Ownby home underwent a major remodel that included:

• New roof
• Foundation repairs
• New windows
• New doors
• An ADA ramp
• An ADA bathroom
• New paint and stucco

“We are happy that the project is complete and that Ray and Mary can move back home,”’ said Sam Palmer, Senior Project Manager for SHE’s Rehabilitation Program. “Now, they have a safe home that better accommodates their needs.”

Self-Help Enterprises operates a rehabilitation program to preserve and improve the existing stock of housing. Through partnerships with cities and counties in the San Joaquin Valley, Self-Help Enterprises works with local community leaders to identify housing needs, secure funding, and successfully implement housing repairs for residents.

Deferred payment loans are available to qualified homeowners for essential health and safety repairs which typically include roofing, plumbing, electrical, heating/cooling, foundation, windows, and handicap accessible modifications. There is no monthly payment. The loan is due and payable upon sale, change of title or change of use – such as change from owner occupied to renter occupied. Housing rehabilitation assistance can meet a critical need for homeowners who lack the funds to make necessary physical health and safety improvements to their homes.

For more information, please call us at 559.651.1000.