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Self Help Builder News March 2012 Volume 5, Issue #1
The Self-Help Builder News is also available as a PDF, if you prefer. Just click here to view.
Food stamps as supplement to income
By Claudia Shay, executive director, Self-Help Housing Corporation of Hawaii
Leilani Weldon, a single mother of two small children, has worked as an educational assistant for the Department of Education for the past six years. She has a limited income of $28,208 per year, and relies on her food stamp benefits to make ends meet. Read more about using food stamps as supplemental income.>>
Washington, DC update
By Stanley Keasling, RCAC chief executive officer
On February 13th, President Obama submitted the Administration’s FY 2013 budget (starts October 1, 2012). The Self-Help funding, while low, is not as bad as last year. Read more about Self-Help funding.>>
Funding status of programs related to the USDA Mutual Self-Help Housing Program
Listed here are several programs, their appropriation levels in recent years and for the USDA programs the current obligations through January 31, 2012. >>
Foster named RCAC housing director
Rural Community Assistance Corporation (RCAC) named Joni Foster as housing program director. Foster joined the organization on February 1. >>
Public charities can lobby: Guidelines for 501(c)(3) public charities
This article is provided courtesy of Alliance for Justice. For more information, contact AFJ at 866/675-6229.
501(c)(3)s public charities (including public foundations) CAN lobby within the generous limits allowed by federal law. How much lobbying the organization can do depends on which of two sets of rules the organization chooses to fall under. Read more about lobbying for 503(c)(3)s. >>
Postcard marketing strategy works in Colorado
By Nanette Allen-Brown, Housing Resources, Grand Junction, CO
Housing Resources of Grand Junction, CO has found a fairly cost effective marketing strategy that seems to generate a fair amount of business for their area: a postcard mailer! Read how they have implemented it. >>
Family of five puts down roots in mutual self-help housing in Mesquite, NV
By Eileen Piekarz, RCAC rural development specialist
Roberta Franco always wanted a home for her five kids, a place to put roots down.She’d gone to college, had good jobs and paid her bills. However, her debt to income ratio was high due to student loans, and she’d been told by lenders she could not qualify for a home loan. Read more about this family of five. >>
More than 100 Alaskan's achieve homeownership through mutual self-help housing
By Angela Sisco, RCAC rural development specialist
Alaska Community Development Corporation (Alaska CDC) and Rural Alaska Community Action Program, Inc. (RurAL CAP) have collectively overseen the successful completion of 84 Mutual Self-Help homes in rural Alaska while another 17 homes are currently under construction in Kenai and Palmer. In the summer of 2012, Alaska will have 101 participants who have achieved homeownership through the Mutual Self-Help Housing Program. Read more about this new construction project. >>
Green initiative checklist
An initiative has been in progress over the last 18 months with the Utah State housing, USDA Rural Development and HUD to establish a green checklist to be used in the construction of affordable new homes in Utah. Read more about this green initiative >>
SHARES: New operating system compatibility
Recently RCAC upgraded our Windows operating system and I had a little difficulty accessing SHARES and printing out my reports. I contacted the eAuthentication help desk folks and found it was a simple fix. >>
Buy American!
This is a great video on buying and building American by homebuilders. We've also included the list of Built in American materials for you. Click here to for the video and materials list. >>
HAC awards $2.5 million for local self-help homeownership programs
Low-Income Families to Become Homeowners through Sweat-Equity
The Housing Assistance Council (HAC) is partnering with 12 organizations in 7 states to build 168 self-help homes for low and moderate-income families. Congratulations to the Western grantees who were awarded funds. >>
Nominations sought for rural volunteer award
Many rural volunteers spend long, unpaid hours helping individuals and organizations in their communities. RCAC grants the Yoneo Ono award to reward and publicly recognize these outstanding rural volunteers. The 2012 honoree will receive an award, a reception in their honor and $4,000 to donate to a charitable organization of their choice. For more information, click here. >>
Self-Help news & notices
Click here for the lates in Procedure Notices, Unnumbered Letters, Administrative Notices, Final Budget Numbers and other reference information. >>
Photo of the month
Bob Anderson, California RD, prepares for battle. >>
Upcoming events
Click here to view a list of upcoming events. >>