October, 2014 - In This Issue

Self-Help Enterprises In The News

Self-Help Enterprises offers an exciting work environment where you can bring your high caliber skills to a true career opportunity and impact the world around you.

We have an opening for a Construction Manager, responsible for all onsite construction activities, estimating, purchasing, planning, and permitting for the self-help housing program; and a Construction Superintendent, responsible for teaching unskilled families how to build their own homes. Learn more here.   

We were proud to honor some of our amazing staff who reached tenure milestones this year at our annual Tenure Awards Luncheon. Together, they represent 95 years of dedicated service and long-term contributions to hard working families and communities in the San Joaquin Valley.

Recently retired CEO Peter Carey also joined the festivities in recognition of his 40 years of service to Self-Help Enterprises.

The support and commitment from our staff allow us to fulfill our mission of working together with low-income families to build and sustain healthy homes and communities.

Self-Help Enterprises has partnered with Family HealthCare Network (FHCN) to host the "Mi Cocina, Mi Salud" (My Health, My Kitchen) program. The program, held at our community centers in the Goshen, Cutler/Orosi, and Dinuba rental communities, motivates families to fight against obesity and related diseases through nutrition education and dance therapy.

To learn more about the "Mi Cocina, Mi Salud" program, our partnership with FHCN, and the difference the program makes in communities, watch the video below.     

 

The City of Dinuba has been awarded $200,000 in funding for its Tenant-Based Rental Assistance (TBRA) Program, which will assist families that have been either unemployed or underemployed because of the effect of the drought. Self-Help Enterprises is implementing the City's TBRA program.

 

With Tulare County being among the 58 percent of California that is in an Exceptional Drought, the U.S. Drought Monitor's most extreme drought category, the rental assistance program will provide some stability to eligible families who are most vulnerable to the economic impacts of reduced agricultural production.

 

The City of Dinuba's TBRA Program is a rental subsidy program that is designed to assist qualified tenants with the payment of monthly rent and utility costs. TBRA assistance will make up the difference between the amount the household can afford to pay for monthly rent and utilities and the actual cost of the housing occupied by the household. Assistance may also be provided for the payment of a security deposit for up to two months.

 

Applicants must reside or work within the City of Dinuba, have income that does not exceed eligibility guidelines, and have seen at least a 15% decrease in income compared to last year. For information and specifics about the program requirements, please contact Rudy Quintana at (559) 802-1664. 

We are honored to receive the 2014 San Joaquin Valley Blueprint Award of Excellence from Fresno State's Office of Community and Economic Development. The award recognizes Self-Help Enterprises' Park Village of Goshen development - a sustainable development project.

Self-Help Enterprises has been involved with the community of Goshen since the first three mutual self-help homes in the nation were constructed there in 1963. Since then, we have facilitated the construction of 95 mutual self-help homes, 120 affordable rental units, development of the first community-wide park, facilitated a community-wide wastewater collection system, and provided assistance to residences in connecting to the sewer system.