With the support of the City of Coalinga and Self-Help Enterprises, Maria Moreno and her family were able to achieve their dream of buying their first home. Through hard work and dedication, Maria navigated the challenges of homeownership with the help of our homebuyer education and financial assistance program. 

Alma Romero, a loan processor at SHE, shared how Maria’s determination and hope helped her overcome obstacles, including finding a lender who could work with ITIN numbers. Alma reflected, “They remained hopeful and worked very hard to make their American Dream come true of becoming homeowners and providing their children with a home of their own.” Alma was inspired by Maria’s perseverance and her desire to teach her six children the value of hard work and dedication. Maria and her family are now proud owners of a beautiful home that provides them with stability and a bright future. 

Maria shared her gratitude for the opportunity: 

“My family and I would like to thank the Coalinga City program and Self-Help Enterprises for the advice and assistance in purchasing our first home. We would like to encourage you, if you are thinking about buying a home, to come and learn about this excellent opportunity.” 

To learn more about how families can begin their journey to homeownership, contact Alma Romero at 559.802.1640 or almar@selfhelpenterprises.org.

Last month, Community West Bank awarded Self-Help Enterprises a significant grant of $1,035,000 in AHP funds, providing crucial support for our River Grove project in Oakhurst, CA. These funds arrived at a pivotal moment, closing an unexpected funding gap caused by unforeseen construction expenses. 

This generous award from Community West Bank has been instrumental in ensuring the success of River Grove, which will offer much-needed affordable housing for families in Oakhurst. The bank’s timely and decisive assistance underscores their unwavering commitment to affordable housing and their dedication to supporting community-driven initiatives. 

We are incredibly grateful for their partnership, which has been vital in moving the River Grove project forward. Thanks to Community West Bank’s support, this project is on track to provide affordable homes to those who need them most. 

The 2025 World Ag Expo brought together thousands of attendees to explore agriculture, technology, and community resources. As one of the largest agricultural trade shows, it was a valuable opportunity for Self-Help Enterprises (SHE) to engage with farmers, ranchers, business owners, and families who play a vital role in shaping our communities. 

At the event, we highlighted key programs such as: 

• Listos California: Disaster preparedness education and resources. 
• Water Well Programs: Support for residents with private wells, including free well testing and emergency water solutions. 

Our booth was filled with activity, offering attendees a chance to learn more about disaster preparedness. Visitors—especially children—were excited to receive: 

• Go-bags with essential emergency items 
• Disaster preparedness guides in both English and Spanish 
• Flashlights, first aid kits, and other emergency supplies 

Our team, including Disaster Resilience Technician, Alissa Lozano, was on hand to answer questions and provide valuable resources, helping attendees understand how to stay prepared for emergencies. Read more

Our team of 200+ people are joined with a shared mission of working with families to build and sustain healthy homes and communities. You can too!