Contacts: Janice Clark, 202-842-8600, ext. 131, janice@ruralhome.org

HAC Awards $10.1 Million for Local Self-Help Homeownership Program

Washington, D.C., April 28, 2010 – The Housing Assistance Council (HAC) is partnering with 33 organizations in 17 states to build more than 650 self-help homes for low-income families around the country. HAC will provide financing for these projects using more than $9.5 million in funds from the federal Self-Help Homeownership Opportunity Program (SHOP), which is administered by the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and $574,000 from other sources.

Families participating in the SHOP program provide sweat-equity to construct their first homes. “Self-help construction is an amazing process,” said Moises Loza, HAC’s executive director. “By working together, the families build a community as they build houses. They are incredibly dedicated – they put in long hours on weekends and evenings to finish their homes. On average, each homebuying family in this year’s SHOP program will contribute nearly 800 hours of construction labor

Most of the families participating in HAC-aided SHOP projects obtain low-interest loans from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s homeownership program. Another USDA program often helps cover the costs for local sponsor organizations to run self-help construction programs.

SHOP funds cover costs associated with land acquisition and infrastructure improvements. Community-based sponsor organizations will supervise homebuying families who work together in groups to construct their own homes and their neighbors’. HAC’s local SHOP affiliates can use up to $15,000 per unit for eligible development. They are responsible for all construction activities, including securing additional funding, preparing sites, training families, and managing the self-help process.

“Many pieces come together to make homeownership possible for families who would have trouble finding financing without their local self-help programs,” Loza explained. “As a result, self-help participants don’t have to rely on subprime and adjustable rate mortgages.” Since the inception of the SHOP program, HAC has been awarded $91.9 million to produce over 7,800 units of affordable housing for families.

A national nonprofit corporation headquartered in Washington, D.C., and founded in 1971, the Housing Assistance Council helps local organizations build affordable homes in rural America by providing below-market financing, technical assistance, research, training, and information services. HAC’s programs focus on local solutions, empowerment, reduced dependency, and self-help strategies. HAC is an equal opportunity lender.

###

Self Help Homeownership Opportunities Program Recipients, 2010

Organization	State	Units
Alaska Community Development Corporation	AK	8
Sowing Seeds of Hope	AL	8
Northwest Regional Housing Authority	AR	6
South Arkansas Community Development	AR	6
Universal Housing Development Corporation	AR	35
Burbank Housing Development Corporation	CA	12
Coachella Valley Housing Corporation	CA	20
Community Housing Improvement Systems and Planning	CA	14
Self Help Enterprises	CA	41
Colorado Housing, Inc.	CO	6
Florida Home Partnership	FL	67
Homes in Partnership	FL	63
Frontier Housing, Inc.	KY	5
Housing Development Alliance	KY	20
Kentucky Highlands Investment Corporation	KY	4
Low Income Housing Coalition of East Kentucky	KY	5
Family Resources of New Orleans	LA	30
Community Concepts, Inc.	ME	32
Marquette County Habitat for Humanity	MI	10
Ozark Foothills Development Association	MO	12
Central Mississippi, Inc.	MS	12
Esther Stewart Buford Foundations	MS	5
Housing Assistance Corporationn0tes	NC	18
Mountain Housing Opportunities, Inc.	NC	12
Interlakes Community Action Partnership	SD	8
Community Action Network	TN	5
Crossville Housing Authority	TN	20
Eastern Eight Community Development Corporation	TN	10
Lower Valley Housing Corporation	TX	60
Proyecto Azteca	TX	11
Mountainlands Community Housing Association	UT	14
Neighborhood Nonprofit Housing Corporation	UT	36
Rural Housing Development Corporation	UT	40
		655