Olivia Gamboa is new homes manager for Self-Help Enterprises (SHE) in Visalia, California, the longest running self-help program in the country. Says explains that during the last 30 plus years she has been employed with SHE, they have observed a steady increase in the number of women home builders. “Whether…
The state of Alaska is known for its cool summers and frigid winters. It’s also the home of Alaska Community Development Corporation (CDC), a nonprofit organization dedicated to ensuring decent and energy-efficient housing for low to moderate income residents. The organization focuses on energy conservation, weatherization, retrofitting, rehabilitation, construction and financing. One of the ways it assists income eligible residents is through its Mutual Self-Help Housing program.
When affordable housing meets energy efficiency, the results for new homeowners can be pretty significant. Just ask Becky, one of the first self-help participants in the program administered by National Affordable Housing Network (NAHN).
Meet Alex and Angela, a husband and wife duo with a lot perseverance in achieving goals. Since their two children were born, homeownership has been among these goals, but the thrifty couple knew they would have save. They lived in a tiny apartment for three years before starting to look for a home. When the time came, they never settled for a home outside their means, even when the search became grueling. “Our realtor had shown us dozens of houses, and we’d just about given up,” says Angela. That was, until she attended a self-help housing seminar.
Interfaith Housing Alliance (IHA) began operating under the Self-Help Purchase Repair model a few years ago, and has had much success providing homeownership opportunities to people near the Frederick County by helping families purchase homes that are available for sale, but are in need of repair. With the guidance of the organization, the participant family assists in the repair of the home. This helps them to save money.
