When finished, 41 households in Patterson, California, will move into affordable homes that they will help to build. Self-Help Enterprises is the sponsor of the project. The US Department of Agriculture is one of several partners. At the sod turning, the president of Self-Help Enterprises described the project as a 12 year journey. Now that’s tenacity! Read more in Patterson Irrigator: There’s still time to apply for affordable housing
The term “self help” might bring to mind inspirational books about self-improvement but in fact self help housing development has quite a history. Self-Help Enterprises, which reflects that history, has chosen its name wisely. There are a number of examples where future owners work together to build their homes and contribute their down payment through sweat equity. Perhaps best known is Habitat For Humanity, which has chapters around the world. Habitat for Humanity projects get labour and funding boosts from out-of-community volunteers who raise funds for the projects they help to build.
