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April, 2016 - In This Issue
Juanita Garcia (far left), a resident of Shafter, stands alongside community partners after receiving a water tank system through the Kern County Temporary Water Assistance Program. The program, a partnership between Self-Help Enterprises, Kern County Public Health, and Community Action Partnership of Kern, provides relief to families impacted by the drought. This two-tank system will provide water to Juanita's home as well as her grandparent's home that is also on the property. To date, 55 tanks have been installed in Kern County since the launch of the program in February 2016. Learn more about Juanita and the water tank program  here.
JOIN OUR TEAM
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 Community Development Project Technician responsible for supporting Community Development efforts, a Resident Services Coordinator responsible for coordinating resident services programs and preparing funding applications for the resident services programs, a Drought Project Tech responsible for helping rural, low-income individuals and communities with drought relief efforts; and a  Community Development Specialist responsible for working with rural residents and boards to assist them in the development and management of community systems.

DEVELOPING LEADERS IN RURAL COMMUNITIES
Self-Help Enterprises and the Rural Community Assistance Corporation
(RCAC) will be hosting a Water Boards Leadership Institute, which strengthens community leadership by teaching skills and tools to be more intentional, effective and energized leaders. Participants must be current or aspiring members of water or sewer district boards of directors from disadvantaged communities in the San Joaquin Valley.
 
The no-cost Water Boards Leadership Institute development course begins in June 2016. The course lasts six months, and meets one weekend per month at Self-Help Enterprises. By the end of the course, participants will be equipped to take up challenging problems in their community and lay out sensible, achievable approaches to solving those problems.
 
If you are interested in joining the Leadership Institute, please email your name and contact information to JessiS@selfhelpenterprises.org or call us at 559-802-1693. More information is also available here.
CONSERVING WATER TO MAKE THE EARTH GREENER
This month we celebrated Earth Day by doing our part to make our communities greener. With a NeighborWorks America® Drought Mitigation/Water Conservation Support Grant, Self-Help Enterprises is investing in irrigation technologies that will increase water efficiency and conserve water at our apartment rental communities
 
The first smart irrigation system has been installed at Goshen Village II, our 56-unit affordable apartment rental community in Goshen, CA. The system is comprised of an irrigation controller that utilizes soil moisture sensors in lieu of weather stations for better accuracy in determining plant health. The two soil moisture sensors - one for turf and one for plants like trees and shrubs - measure the moisture level and temperature in the soil and determine whether the area surrounding the sensor requires irrigation. By implementing a smart irrigation system, we are able to regulate the optimal level of water for the soil and set up the system to turn off all of the irrigation if there is a mainline break or turn off individual valves if there is a leak or issue with a particular valve.
 
This smart irrigation system is also a component of a larger development activity within Self-Help Enterprises' apartment rental properties. With the continued drought and depletion in water supply, this first smart irrigation project will serve as a model for water conservation, water delivery management, and reducing water costs at our other apartment rental communities.
 
More importantly, the new irrigation system will have a positive impact in rural communities by preserving green and clean open recreational space for the residents and maintaining Self-Help Enterprises' apartment rental properties as an affordable rental community.
TIPS FOR PROSPECTIVE HOMEBUYERS
Mortgage rates are low and home prices are rising in the San Joaquin Valley, so to get a leg up on the home-buying competition, Self-Help Enterprises recommends prospective homebuyers follow three simple rules to help make one of the biggest purchases you make go smoothly.

Tip #1: It's important to know your numbers - and not just the numbers in your budget. Our housing conseslors can help you understand your credit score, interest rates, how much of a down payment you need, and how much home is really affordable.

Check out two more tips to become a homeowner here.
2015 ANNUAL REPORT
Self-Help Enterprises' annual report provides details on program accomplishments and activities throughout the year. Last year, significant milestones achieved included:
  • completion of the Goshen Park Village subdivision
  • assisting schools in accessing funding for clean drinking water
  • celebrating the 50th year of the Mutual Self-Help Housing Program and the building of the 50,000th home in America, and
  • providing drought relief assistance to families across the San Joaquin Valley. 
Click here to view and download our 2015 annual report.  
Copyright © 2016, Self Help Enterprises
8445 W. Elowin Court, Visalia, CA 93291		 All Rights Reserved.
559.651.1000