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June, 2015 - In This Issue

Nine hardworking families received the keys to the homes they built in Goshen. By working together, these families completed construction of their new homes in nine months and achieved the dream of homeownership. They join the first complete subdivision in Goshen of 77 self-help homes.

JOIN OUR TEAM
Self-Help Enterprises offers an exciting work environment where you can bring your high caliber skills to a true career opportunity and impact the world around you.

We have openings for an Office Tech responsible for general office and clerical duties; a  Loan Processor responsible for recruitment of participants, determination of program eligibility, loan processing and packaging; a Community Development Specialist responsible for assisting rural low-income communities in obtaining safe drinking water and sanitary sewer disposal facilities; and a  Drought Project Developer responsible for drought relief efforts in the San Joaquin Valley. Learn more here.
50 YEARS,
50,000 HOMES CELEBRATION

On June 8, Self-Help Enterprises, in partnership with the National Rural Self-Help Housing Association and the USDA Rural Development, held a homeownership event to celebrate the 50th year and the building of the 50,000th home in America since the inception of the Mutual Self-Help Housing Program.  

 

The event, held in conjunction with NeighborWorks Week and National Homeownership Month, took place in Arvin, CA where 20 families are currently building their new, safe, affordable homes. We were honored to have in attendance Congressman David Valadao, USDA Rural Housing Services Administrator Tony Hernandez, NeighborWorks America Senior Vice President of Field Operations Tom Chabolla, Kern County Supervisor Leticia Perez, and Alex Garcia, Field Representative for the Office of Assemblymember Rudy Salas. The families currently building their homes also joined in the celebration, and together with our guests, they raised a wall of a home to symbolize the partnerships with all the organizations that make the Mutual Self-Help Housing Program possible. 

 
 

Since 1965, when Self-Help Enterprises pioneered the mutual self-help housing program, we have helped more than 6,100 families in the San Joaquin Valley build their own homes and achieve the dream of becoming homeowners. 

 

Visit this link to view more photos from the event.  
DOWNPAYMENT ASSITANCE GRANTS

Wells Fargo, NeighborWorks America, and Self-Help Enterprises have partnered to introduce the HomeLIFT program, which provides eligible homebuyers with $15,000 grants to use toward down payment on qualified homes in the Modesto, Fresno, and Bakersfield area.      

 

To be eligible, homebuyers must meet criteria including completing an eight-hour homebuyer education session. For a family of four in Modesto, Fresno and Bakersfield, the income limit is $68,300, at 120% Area Median Income (AMI). Annual income of all persons 18 and older living in the home must be at or below 120% of the AMI guidelines. Federal Housing Administration (FHA) financing, a popular option for HomeLIFT financing, is limited to 115% of the AMI or $65,450 for a family of four.      


The grant can also be applied to a mortgage loan made by an approved lender and can be layered with other mortgage assistance programs.   

 

For the Fresno and Modesto area, homebuyers may make an appointment online to review eligibility and reserve a grant while funds are available. 

 

For the Bakersfield area, homebuyers should register to attend a free homebuyer event on July 24-25 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Bakersfield Convention Center, located at 1001 Truxtun Ave. Only pre-registered customers are assured a meeting to determine eligibility for a HomeLIFT grant reservation.  

Walk-ins are welcome, but only while funds are available. 

   

Prospective homebuyers can learn more about the HomeLIFT program and register by visiting our website. 
NEW RENTAL COMMUNITIES

On June 10, 2015, Self-Help Enterprises received an allocation of tax credit funding for the development of two new rental communities - Highland Gardens and Sierra Village.

 

Highland Gardens is a 36-unit rental community in Visalia (Tulare County) and is located at Highland Avenue east of State Highway 63 (Dinuba Highway) between Ferguson Street and Riggin Avenue. Sierra Village is a 44-unit rental community located in Dinuba (Tulare County) and is located at the corner of E. Davis Drive and N. Crawford Avenue.

 

All of the new units will be single-story and the 2- and 3-bedroom units will have a front porch/patio area that looks to a landscaped common area. Sierra Village and Highland Gardens amenities include a community center with a computer lab, kitchen, common laundry room, and space for resident services. Highland Gardens is the first apartment rental community for Self-Help Enterprises to feature a centrally located community garden, and both rental communities include a solar photovoltaic (PV) system to offset 100% of the common area and residential electrical loads.

Both rental communities will be under construction by November 2015, and should be complete with residents moving in by the end of October 2016.

 

We are excited about the opportunity to begin construction on Sierra Village and Highland Gardens, and we look forward to serving low-income working families in Dinuba and Visalia.
Copyright ? 2015, Self-Help Enterprises
8445 W. Elowin Court, Visalia, CA 93291		 All Rights Reserved.
559.651.1000