Self-Help
Ownership > Self-Help
Self-Help Homes
Self-Help Housing is a group method of home construction for low-income families. Under the supervision of CHISPA, families help build each other’s homes. Since 1990, CHISPA has helped 633 low-income families construct their own homes in different areas of Monterey County.
Generally, 10 to 12 families make up a self-help construction group. A CHISPA construction supervisor teaches the families how to build their homes and oversees their work. As a result, families construct high-quality homes at a substantial cost savings.
CHISPA’s Self-Help Housing Program does the following:
- Enables low and very-low income families to participate in the housing marketplace, when they may otherwise be excluded;
- Works individually with families to package and process loan applications;
- Advances a family from the application process to actual construction. In the first three to four months applicants are identified, qualified, processed, loans approved and title is granted. During the next nine to twelve months, permits are issued and construction of the homes takes place;
- Provides construction professionals who are on the job five days a week with the families, teaching them how to construct their homes and the homes of their neighbors;
- Develops construction skills, and pride of ownership which results in a quality finished product, and an established neighborhood.
Self-Help homes are attractive three and four-bedroom, two-bath homes ranging in size from 1,100 to 1,300 square feet.
Self-Help homes currently under construction: Vineyard Green Subdivision in Greenfield, CA.
Self-Help Program Information
To participate in the Self-Help Housing Program, families must qualify under established income limits. Families must be credit-worthy, first-time homebuyers, have stable employment or income, and be able to contribute physical labor toward home construction. A program participant with a disability that prevents him or her from doing construction work must provide verification that a family member or friend will commit to provide the physical labor. Applicants with a disability are urged to contact the Program Coordinator or Program Manager to discuss accommodations which may be necessary for the applicant to participate in the program.
Participating families must work weekends and three days during the week for a minimum of 40 hours per week, per family. The construction schedule is approximately ten to twelve months. Families are expected to coordinate their regular employment schedules with the Self-Help construction schedule.
Self-Help families perform at least 65% of the construction of their homes. Plumbing, electrical, heating, drywall, stucco work, and other skilled trades are subcontracted to professional contractors.
Single parents and their families may qualify as long as the family can provide written verification that another adult has greed to help with the required labor.
Applicants who are not citizens of the United States must present evidence of their status as a legal United States resident.
Applicants must be aware of and agree to all resale restrictions and affordability controls applied to the development.
Mortgage loans: USDA Rural Development Section 502 loans may be available in rural areas and Cal HFA loans may be available in urban and suburban areas.