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Utah Self Help Housing Statewide Quarterly Review and Network Meeting

On March 8, Utah grantees and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development staff, joined by people from Washington, D.C., met in Springdale, Utah to participate in the Mutual Self-Help Housing Network Meeting at the Best Western Zion Lodge in the mouth of Zion National Park.

USDA Rural Development, Rural Community Assistance Corporation and the state of Utah Division of Housing and Community Development orchestrated the two-day meeting, which was comprised of a series of workshops and quarterly review meetings dedicated to improving the effectiveness and productivity of the self-help housing program.

Brilliant blue skies and snow-capped mountain peaks framed the meeting location. A sense of peace created the perfect setting for participants to network, collaborate, exchange ideas and take a respite from daily challenges facing the program.

The meeting opened with a welcome from USDA Rural Development State Director, Dave Conine and Housing Program Manager, Janice Kocher. Mike Glen, Utah HOME program manager joined Conine in declaring that the self-help housing program is alive and well and invited participants to consider strategies to maintain continuation of the essential and successful program in Utah’s rural communities.

Special guests included, Stanley Keasling, RCAC chief executive officer, and Jay Fletcher, USDA legislative and public affairs communications manager. Fletcher impressed upon participants the importance of the development of a relationship with local media. Keasling directed a leadership session that involved brainstorming strategies to achieve self-help housing sustainability amidst the current climate of threatening budget reductions.

The core of the meeting was a series of workshops directed to self-help housing staff. These workshops included, self-help housing rehabilitation; standardization of the 502 checklist, the Utah Green checklist technical session; construction efficiencies; land development; a well-attended marketing and recruiting workshop; and others.

Collaboration and relationship building were woven throughout the meeting and they distinctly enhanced enthusiasm. All participants were committed to work together to support each other’s work and find resolve with potential budget and program reductions.

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