Self-Help Enterprises (SHE) offers an exciting work environment where you can bring your high caliber skills to a true career opportunity and impact the world around you. SHE is currently hiring a Program Director for Mutual Self-Help Housing (New Homes), responsible for recruitment and development of new mutual self-help homes; a Community Development Specialist, responsible for assisting rural low-income communities in obtaining safe drinking water and sanitary sewer disposal facilities; and a Construction Superintendent for the northern service area, responsible for the training and supervision of New Homes participants in the construction of their new homes. Learn more here. |
DELANO RECEIVES GRANT TO STRENGTHEN NEIGHBORHOODS
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On June 18, Wells Fargo presented SHE and Delano Mayor Grace Vallejo with a $150,306 UrbanLIFT Community Grant to kick-off the Ellington Community Center's fa�ade improvement.
Improvements to the center include re-facing and painting the exterior of the building. These enhancements will provide a much needed update to the external appearance of the 50-year old building.
SHE and the City of Delano also identified seven deteriorated, abandoned homes that were not only an eyesore in the community, but also led to illegal activity and unwanted guests. With the generous investment, the houses were demolished and the vacant land was restored to local government standards.
These improvements will aid in strengthening the Delano community and improving the quality of life in various neighborhoods. 
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From left to right: Ricardo Chavez, Delano Councilmember; Rudy Perez, Wells Fargo Delano Service Manager; Sandy Cha, Wells Fargo Foundation; Delano Mayor Grace Vallejo; Tom Collishaw, CEO of Self-Help Enterprises; Ernie Pineda, Wells Fargo South Valley Market President.
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SHE AWARDS ACADEMIC SCHOLARSHIPS
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Self-Help Enterprises (SHE) Board Member Ray Chavez presented a Doris "Do" Dooley Academic Scholarship to Brady Jeffries at the Tulare Mission Oak High School.
The competitive academic scholarship is awarded to students whose families have participated in one of SHE's programs. For the 2014-2015 academic year, SHE awarded a total of $6,500 to nine students.
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DREAM COMES TRUE FOR ORANGE COVE FAMILY
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 Self-Help Enterprises (SHE) and the City of Orange Cove celebrated the completion of the first ever city-funded housing rehabilitation project. A new home was built for Eduardo and Leticia Zavala and their children through the city's Housing Rehabilitation Program, which is funded by a HOME grant from the state Department of Housing and Community Development and implemented by SHE. The Zavala's 961 square-foot house had dry-rotted window frames and roof, exposed wiring, plumbing issues, cracked exterior walls, moldy walls and broken windows. The new 1,361 square-foot, four-bedroom, two-bathroom home was built on the same lot where the former house stood. On June 23, the Zavala family received an official welcome into their new, safe home and watched their old, hazardous home being demolished.
Leticia Zavala said she often worried about her family living in unsafe conditions in their previous home. Now, her family's dream for a new home has come true. |
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Top photo: Members from the City of Orange Cove, SHE and the Zavala family celebrate the new home with a ribbon cutting. Bottom photo: The Zavala family's previous home and the family's new home.
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The San Joaquin Valley's drought and water shortage has impacted many Valley families. To help these families, Self-Help Enterprises (SHE) is providing and supporting the following drought relief efforts: Household Water Well System Program: Funded by the USDA Rural Utilities Service, the program provides low-interest loans (maximum of $11,000) to qualified homeowners for construction, refurbishment or servicing of an individual household water well system. This program assists those who reside in the rural areas of Madera, Merced, Stanislaus, Kings, Tulare, Fresno or Kern Counties, own and occupy their home, and have a maximum household income of $57,900. For more information and specifics about the loan, please call SHE Loan Processor Rudy Quintana at (559) 801-1664.
Rental Assistance: Low-income families in the San Joaquin Valley can receive rental assistance from a program offered through Proteus. The program is open to residents of SHE rental communities starting July 24. To be eligible for the program, applicants must be renters, been affected by the drought and working less hours, less days, or not at all, have rent that is past due, and reside in Tulare, Kings, or Fresno County. For more information, please call Proteus at 888-776-9998. Food Boxes: SHE is working to inform communities about food boxes provided by FoodLink for Tulare County. The 30 lb. boxes of food are available to those who have been affected by the drought, including farmworkers, farmers, packinghouses or any business that has lost income due to farmworkers not coming in as clients. For distribution dates and locations, please call FoodLink at 559-651-3663.
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SUMMER RESIDENT SERVICES SUPPORT COMMUNITY BUILDING
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In addition to providing quality, affordable rental housing, Self-Help Enterprises (SHE) implements resident services to enhance the everyday lives and futures of residents. Though it's summer, these programs and services don't take a vacation. Rather, supportive services and enrichment programs have been added for the summer months to build stronger families and communities.
Farmworker Institute for Education & Leadership Development (FIELD) ESL Classes: Starting in July, FIELD is delivering 6 week-long English classes at Solinas Village, SHE's rental housing community in McFarland and SHE's Villa Hermosa and Almond Court communities in Wasco. Over the last few years, approximately 600 adult students have gone through the program with many transferring to FIELD high schools and GED programs.
Summer Lunch Program: FoodLink for Tulare County is providing free, nutritious summer lunch at SHE's Goshen Village I community room. This program, overseen by Summer Lunch Coordinator Janelle Conrad, is available to the children of Goshen through August 8.
After School Programs: SHE's after school programs are continuing during the summer months, offering academic enrichment and fun activities. Ms. Mendoza in Orosi's Sand Creek community stimulates children's minds by challenging the children to do research on marine wildlife, ocean ecosystems, and why it's important to recycle. The children then create an ocean wall using butcher paper, paper plates, yarn, finger paint and other art supplies to depict the world that lies beneath the seas.
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