June is National Homeownership Month and USDA has been highlighting the role the Agency takes in helping residents of America’s small towns and cities purchase homes in rural areas.
“USDA Rural Development is pleased to assist rural Texans in meeting their housing needs, a critical goal to the long term sustainability of our communities,” said USDA Rural Development Texas State Director Paco Valentin. “USDA has helped provide homeownership for rural Americans for more than six decades. This year, we are marking the 50th anniversary of USDA’s Mutual Self-Help Housing program and are celebrating the 50,000th home built through it.”
The Mutual Self-Help program provides grants to help organizations carry out housing construction projects in rural areas. These organizations supervise groups of very-low- and low-income individuals and families as they construct their own homes. The group members provide most of the construction labor on each other’s homes and get technical assistance from the organization overseeing the project. By working with trusted local organizations, this program helps people get affordable, clean and safe homes of their own. For example, the Community Development Corporation of Brownsville is one of the largest non-profit producers of single family housing for homeownership in Texas. They are committed to helping families build their dreams and communities.
A “celebration of homeownership” was hosted today at the Inwood Subdivision, located in Brownsville, Texas. The Community Development Corporation of Brownsville, USDA Rural Development, the Office of Congressman Vela, local officials and residents joined together to celebrate their accomplishments and successful journey to homeownership. Inwood Subdivision is the location of over 30 self-help houses and eighty percent of the loans originated in that subdivision are USDA 502 Direct Loans. It is also is also the location of the first Leadership in Energy & Environmental (LEED) home south of San Antonio.
Ricardo and Monica Robles participated in the self-help program at Inwood Subdivision and shared their experience. When they built their home seven years ago, they were one of five families, who had never met before, that came together to build five homes. The sense of community forged during the months of construction stays with the Robles today as they feel the people that live next to them are not just neighbors, but friends who trust one another.
Homeownership provides a strong foundation to help build household wealth, start a business or fund education through home equity. Since the creation of USDA’s single-family housing programs in 1949, USDA has helped more than 3 million rural residents access the American dream of homeownership.
President Obama’s historic investments in rural America have made our rural communities stronger. Under his leadership, these investments in housing, community facilities, businesses and infrastructure have empowered rural America to continue leading the way – strengthening America’s economy, small towns and rural communities. For more information regarding USDA Rural Development programs, please contact the Edinburg Area Office at (956) 383-4928, Ext. 4 or by visiting our website at www.rd.usda.gov/tx.