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 openings for
Drought Project Tech responsible for conducting water sampling of temporary water tank systems and facilitating implementation of drought relief efforts, an
Office Tech (front office/clerical) responsible for
general office and clerical duties, and a
Homeownership Counselor responsible for working with families to prepare them for homeownership.
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ESL CLASS EQUIPS STUDENTS FOR SUCCESS
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For students in the Goshen English as a Second Language (ESL) enrichment program, the class is a step to advancing their lives. This month, the hardworking students celebrated a milestone - each student received a certificate for successfully completing the first semester of the course.
The
ESL classes are a free service offered by Self-Help Enterprise
s in partnership with
The Literacy Center through the Tulare County Library Program "Read to Succeed". Classes are held at our Goshen Village I community center on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Instructor Cristel Jensen, a volunteer and staff member of Self-Help Enterprises, teaches students
English speaking, writing, and reading comprehension skills through techniques that include cooking a dish by following a recipe.
The ESL course has also helped increase the students' confidence and engagement in their community. They
proudly represented the class during a Library and Literacy Proclamation addressing the Tulare County Board of Supervisors, sharing how having access to education has changed their lives. To continue practicing their reading skills, the students recently started a book club and are currently reading the House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros. We congratulate the ESL students!
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FAMILIES BREAK GROUND ON NEW HOMES
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Self-Help Enterprises celebrated National Homeownership Month with a groundbreaking ceremony recognizing ten families who began construction of their new, affordable homes in the newest phase of a subdivision in Parksdale (Madera County).
USDA Rural Development National Homeownership Month, celebrated in June, brings attention to homeownership in rural communities. Through the partnership between Self-Help Enterprises' housing programs and USDA Rural Development programs, rural residents are able to buy a home.
The single-family, energy-efficient homes are all built under the USDA Rural Development mutual self-help housing method, with homeowners working together to provide over 65% percent of the construction labor. The energy efficient homes range from 1,210 to 1,350 square feet and featu
re three or four bedrooms, two baths, covered patios, and two-car garages.
Families not only build their homes and those of their neighbors, they also build an instant community, a sense of place, and skills that will last a lifetime.
The construction of the ten new homes will bring a total of 113 homes to Parksdale since the first self-help houses were constructed in 1970. An additional 30 homes are planned for construction in the current subdivision phase with completion of the project slated for early 2018. Individuals and families who are interested in the program may call 559-802-1628 for more information and to apply.
In addition to embracing the need for affordable housing in Parksdale, Self-Help Enterprises worked together with Madera County to improve two existing parks - Desha Park and Parksdale Village Park, located adjacent to Self-Help Enterprises' housing subdivision. Funding to rehabilitate the parks was awarded for the housing subdivision developed by Self-Help Enterprises.
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BEAUTIFICATION PROJECT BUILDS COMMUNITY PRIDE
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On June 11
, Goshen residents beautified their community as part of a week-long celebration of neighborhood revitalization activities nationally recognized as NeighborWorks Week.
Self-Help Enterprises together with the Goshen Women's Association, Team Hope of Goshen, Love Goshen, Mid Valley Disposal, Family HealthCare Network, Altura Centers for Health, Goshen Elementary School, and the Tulare County Library, built civic engagement and pride by beautifying key areas in the community. The event also included a resource fair with informational booths of local organizations serving the community as well as a taco truck lunch co-sponsored by Ewing Irrigation.
With Self-Help Enterprises' roots in the community of Goshen where the first three self-help homes were built in the nation in 1963, the organization set out to build a community of opportunity with affordable housing, recreational options, services, and economic vitality. Today, Goshen is a budding community with 122 self-help homes, Goshen Village I - a 64-unit affordable apartment rental, Goshen Village II with 56 apartment rental units, and the 10-acre Peter Malloch Park - all developed by Self-Help Enterprises.
As Goshen resident Lupita Soria stated, "Goshen is our home. Events like these bring the community together and encourages other residents to be a part of it. We need to take care of our community and make sure our children have a clean, safe place to live."
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PLAINVIEW CELEBRATES NEW PARK
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Residents in Plainview, a small, rural Tulare County community, celebrated the newly-opened Plainview Neighborhood Park. Self-Help Enterprises joined the residents for the grand opening along with community partners including the Plainview Community, Plainview Mutual Water Company, El Quinto Sol de America, and Tulare County.
The community's first park, located at the corner of Avenue 194 and Road 198, includes a half basketball court, play area with a shade structure, and benches. The celebration also featured remarks from Supervisor Allen Ishida and Cruz Rivera, the Plainview Mutual Water Company secretary, as well as a performance by dancing group El Quinto Sol De America.
Self-Help Enterprises assisted with securing funding from the State Department of Housing and Community Development to develop the park, which is built on land donated by the Plainview Mutual Water Company.
By offering green space to play and recreate, neighborhood residents build wellness and create healthy communities.
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INTERNSHIP INSPIRES FUTURE AFFORDABLE HOUSING LEADERS
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For young college students who are discovering a career path, the California Coalition for Rural Housing (CCRH) internship program recruits and trains students who may not otherwise know about the affordable housing field. For several years, Self-Help Enterprises has been a host agency for the one-year program that is designed to
increase the diversity of staff in the affordable housing field and assist in meeting the diverse needs of rural communities.
Our most recent intern, Vanesa Donangtavanh, started her internship in June 2015 while working on her psychology degree at Fresno State University. At the time she was not exactly sure what she wanted to do with her career, but she knew she wanted to help people and make a difference.
Shortly after starting the internship, she enrolled in the Humanics program at Fresno State to advance her knowledge of grant writing and non-profit management. Vanesa jumped right in to her role and took on many new challenges, including learning the world of affordable housing and sustainable communities funding as well as low-income housing tax credits. With the completion of her internship, Vanesa accepted a permanent position as a Project Tech in the Real Estate Development department.
Similarly, our new staff member Vanessa Soto was exposed to affordable housing when she served as a CCRH intern for
Peoples' Self-Help Housing while attending Cal Poly San Luis Obispo where she earned a degree in Comparative Ethnic Studies. After graduating, Vanessa stayed at Peoples' as a Project Management Assistant before moving to the Bay Area. Vanessa joined Self-Help Enterprises as an Administrate Analyst in our Partner Programs department where she assists with administration and reporting, fiscal management, and implementing housing rehabilitation and homebuyer assistance efforts.
Both staff members have a bright future ahead filled with contributions that will help improve the lives of low-income working families.
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