Celebrating NeighborWorks Week and 300th Home Milestone in Planada!

Earlier this month, Self-Help Enterprises joined community members and local leaders in Planada to celebrate NeighborWorks Week and a major milestone in the community: the construction of the 300th home through our Mutual Self-Help Housing Program!

Held at our active construction site on Topeka Street, the event included a special wall-raising photo moment and remarks from participant families, partners, and elected officials. Today, 22 homes are under construction, and 20 families have recently moved into completed homes.

“This milestone is more than a number—it represents hundreds of families who’ve literally built Planada while building a future for their families,” said SHE CEO and President, Tom Collishaw.

We also celebrated our broader partnership with the Planada community, which includes rental housing development, assistance with sewer and water infrastructure challenges, community leadership development, and housing rehabilitation.

Olivia Gomez, SHE Board Member, lifelong Planada resident, and past participant in the NeighborWorks Community Leadership Institute, spoke to the importance of community leadership and resilience in shaping the region’s future.

“It’s incredible to see how far Planada has come since I was growing up here,” said Gomez. “There’s been so much progress over the years, and I’m truly thankful for the collaboration and heart of this community. That’s what makes milestones like this possible.”

As a proud NeighborWorks network member, SHE joins nearly 250 nonprofit organizations nationwide in uplifting the theme of this year’s campaign: “Creating Homes, Building America.”

First-time homebuilder Daleisy Garcia Naranjo captured the spirit of the day best: “This experience has been life-changing… It’s incredibly encouraging to have a place I can truly call my own and build my future in.” Read More

Celebrating Julie's Retirement

After 46 Years of Service!

On June 27, staff (past and present), friends, and family gathered to celebrate the incredible career of Julie Scaife, who is retiring after more than 46 years of dedicated service to Self-Help Enterprises.

Julie’s impact on SHE is impossible to overstate. As Executive Assistant to both longtime CEO Peter Carey and current CEO Tom Collishaw, Julie has played a vital role in supporting leadership and holding together countless moving pieces over the years. Her professionalism, steady presence, and unwavering kindness have touched every corner of the organization.

Whether offering a helping hand or a warm smile, Julie has always been someone you could count on: a thoughtful listener, a trusted confidante, and a beloved teammate. While we’ll deeply miss seeing her every day, we’re thrilled that she’ll now enjoy more time with her family, including her lively twin toddler grandchildren.

“When I think about the people who make SHE a great place to work, I immediately think about Julie, how she embodies our values, treating everyone with dignity and respect,” shared Tom. “Empathy is her superpower. It has been a great honor to work alongside her.”

Thank you, Julie, for everything you’ve given to SHE and to the communities we serve. You leave behind a lasting legacy and a lot of grateful hearts!

Expanding Paths to Homeownership in Bakersfield

Self-Help Enterprises is proud to announce a new opportunity for homeownership in Bakersfield, where several newly built homes are now available. Located on Sunchase Drive, these homes are part of a collaborative effort with the City of Bakersfield and the newly established Bakersfield Community Land Trust (BCLT) to make affordable homeownership a reality for more families.

This effort marks one of the first homeownership opportunities made possible through the Bakersfield Community Land Trust, a community-based organization launched in 2023 to preserve housing affordability and expand access for working families.

In addition to these constructed homes, Self-Help Enterprises will begin construction in July of nearly a dozen infill properties donated by City of Bakersfield to the BCLT, with the earliest ones being available at the end of year for purchase.

Through SHE’s Gateway Program, prospective homebuyers will receive one-on-one guidance from certified homeownership counselors, helping them assess their financial readiness, navigate available financing, and access homebuyer assistance programs. This supportive approach ensures families are prepared not just to purchase a home, but to succeed in sustaining it.

To learn more about the program and explore available homes, visit www.bakersfieldclt.org or contact info@bakersfieldclt.org.

2024 MLRP Annual Report Highlights Progress

As the San Joaquin Valley and California face challenges with water scarcity and the effects of climate change, the 2024 Annual Report from the Multibenefit Land Repurposing Program (MLRP) highlights momentum in transitioning irrigated farmland to uses that reduce groundwater demand while providing community and environmental benefits. In just two years, MLRP has directed over $75 million across eight regions, engaging more than 100 partner organizations and reaching over 120 underserved communities. MLRP is proving how repurposing farmland can support both resilience and regional vitality.

The report was authored by the MLRP Statewide Support Entity — co-chaired by the Environmental Defense Fund and Self-Help Enterprises with support from Environmental Incentives — and includes contributions from grantees and DOC staff.

Here are some of the key program highlights included in the report:

The Department of Conservation awarded $8-10 million block grants to eight regions in the first two funding rounds, supporting work across 3.3 million acres
Many block grantees formed community advisory groups that included farmers, local residents, Tribal members and other interested parties — ensuring that the planning process reflects local priorities and directly informs project design.
Block grantees led over 65 outreach events to engage regional stakeholders and build the foundation for project planning and implementation.
Ten multibenefit land repurposing projects were approved in 2024. These projects, located in the Kaweah Subbasin, Tule Subbasin, Pajaro Valley, Salinas Valley and Madera County, are set to reduce groundwater demand and/or increase groundwater recharge while delivering additional community and environmental co-benefits.

The Statewide Support Entity created five new planning and development resources and facilitated 11 learning events — including a full-day workshop in Merced County and a field visit in Tulare County.

The 2024 Multibenefit Land Repurposing Program annual report is available in both English and Spanish.

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