The Self-Help Housing Program is a program funded by the U. S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Rural Development (RD) and is designed to serve low-income (80% AMI) and very low income (30-60% AMI) households to achieve homeownership.
The signature aspect of the Self-Help program is the contribution of labor or sweat equity by participant households. This unique program combines family labor with very affordable mortgage financing to bring homeownership within reach of many rural households.
CSCLT plans on working closely with immigrant farm workers throughout Sonoma County on homeownership opportunities.
Benefits for families:
- Provides affordable home ownership with minimal out-of-pocket expense
- Teaches construction skills
- Instills pride and a sense of ownership
- Families work together for a common goal to build strong communities
- Works with the USDA 502 Loan Program to pro- vide low-interest mortgage loans subsidized to as low as 1 percent interest
- Defers mortgage payments during the construction period
- Reduces the purchase price of the home through sweat equity
- Can be used with other funding sources for even greater family savings
