12 families get new homes with self-help housing
Proud new owners provided “sweat equity,” building 70 percent of homes
Twelve families who worked together to build the majority of their brand new homes under the supervision of Peoples’ Self-Help Housing received the keys to their new homes at a Dec. 4th ceremony in Atascadero.
Having begun construction in early 2013, the Self-Help Home Builders’ hard work finally paid off at ceremony at the houses on Atalaya Street in Atascadero.
Along with PSHH, loan assistance was provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Ronald Tackett, area director for USDA Rural Development in California, presented the families with their house keys. Atascadero Mayor Tom O’Malley also was in attendance.
The low income households worked together to perform 70 percent of the construction for the three- and four-bedroom houses. This included forming the foundations, framing, roofing, siding, interior finish and landscaping. Subcontractors took care of some of the specialty work, including plumbing, heating, air conditioning, electrical, drywall, and stucco.
The homes are very energy efficient, meeting Energy Star 3.0 requirements, and local nonprofit GRID Alternatives Central Coast installed photovoltaic solar systems on the homes that aren’t shaded by mature oak trees in the area. The houses also have two baths, two-car garages, large porches and feature tile and laminate flooring.
The families’ labor, or “sweat-equity” reduced the cost of the homes and eliminated the requirement for a down payment. The USDA provided construction and mortgage loans.
About Peoples’ Self-Help Housing
Founded in 1970, PSHH is an award winning non-profit organization that develops affordable housing and community facilities for low-income households and homeownership opportunities for working families and special needs populations, such as seniors, the disabled, veterans, and the formerly homeless. With over 1,200 homes completed and nearly 1,600 rental units developed and now managed by PSHH, it is the largest affordable housing developer on the Central Coast with offices in Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo. For more information, visit www.pshhc.org or call (805) 781-3088 or (805) 699-7227.
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