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RCAC Self-Help Builder News December 2011, Volume 4, Issue 4

Self-help housing rehabilitation

In these troubled economic times, several grantees have modified their grants to include self-help rehabilitation. Read useful knowledge about good self-help rehabilitation models provided by several grantees. >>

Green building: Housing Kitsap

By Art Seavey, RCAC rural development specialist

For the past three years, Kitsap County Consolidated Housing Authority (dba Housing Kitsap) has been dedicated to the implementation of green and sustainable building features in its mutual self-help homes. Here are some of the green features that Housing Kitsap has incorporated into their building program. >>

National Rural Housing Coalition meeting

By Stanley Keasling, RCAC chief executive officer

The National Rural Self Help Housing Association (NRSHHA) met in conjunction with the National Rural Housing Coalition (NRHC) Washington, DC the week of November 28 to discuss issues of concern and to select new steering committee members. Brad Bishop joins Peter Carey to represent the western grantees on the NRSHHA steering committee. Click here to read about topics that were discussed. >>

Self-help marketing successes

In the Spring 2011 issue of the Self Help Builder RCAC staff, Angela Sisco, outlined various marketing strategies for recruiting builders especially the very low-income. In this issue, we feature stories that show what is working in the region. >>

Finding SHARES reporting errors

By Nancy Jacobsen, RCAC rural development specialist

I receive lots of calls from grantees concerned their SHARES report doesn’t indicate a true number of points earned. Typically, a date has been entered incorrectly or not entered at all. Read more. >>

Self-help news and notices

Click here for the latest in Procedure Notices, Unnumbered Letters, Administrative Notices, Final Budget Numbers and other reference information. >>

Self-help success in Utah

By Kim C. Datwyler, Neighborhood Nonprofit Housing Corporation executive director

With the completion of the Corrine, Utah group’s homes, we will hit (and surpass) the 250 mark for the number of self-help homes built in Northern Utah! Read more about the completion of this group of homes. >>

Friend of Housing award

John Campbell was honored as the first WSHFC's Friend of Housing award recipient. Here is an excerpt from Pam Teitz's speech, presenting John with the award on September 27, 2011. >>

HUD supplies grants through self-help housing program

Nearly 1,500 homes will be built with more than $26 million in grants from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) through the agency's Self-Help Homeownership Opportunity Program (SHOP). Learn more about these programs here. >>

Art Gonzales & SEWHC of Racine County: 41 years of self-help housing

(Reprinted with permission from NCALL)

In November 2011, Art Gonzales and Southeastern Wisconsin Housing Corporation (SEWHC) of Racine County discontinued their self-help housing program. This decision was not an easy one for the staff and board of SEWHC, but the economy in their area made the program no longer feasible. They are continuing to look for other alternatives that might enable them to provide affordable housing to those in need. Read more about their achievements. >>