USDA Deputy Administrator for Multi-Family Housing Bryan Hooper today joined Housing Assistance Corporation (HAC) officials to celebrate National Homeownership Month.
“USDA has partnered with the Housing Assistance Corporation, an affordable housing provider, and utilized the hard work of the families to make homeownership a reality for them,” Hooper said. “Owning a home is part of the American dream and often represents the largest single investment a person will make.”
Dignitaries gathered for the screening of the Self Help video funded in part by USDA. The Self Help housing program is exclusively targeted to very low and low income families. By providing 65 percent of the labor (more than 1,000 hours) to construct their own homes, families can reduce the cost of their home by as much as 30 percent.
June is National Homeownership Month and throughout the month, USDA is celebrating the accomplishments of rural families who are working their way into the American Dream by investing in a home of their own. The theme for this year’s activities is “Let’s Build A Better Future Together.”
This year, USDA is marking the 50th anniversary of the Self Help Housing program and are celebrating the 50,000th home built through it. The Housing Assistance Council reports that every 100 homes built under the Self Help program create 324 jobs, $21.1 million in local income, and $2.2 million in tax revenue.
Since 2009, USDA Rural Development has helped more than 40,000 rural North Carolina families become homeowners, including more than 115 through the Self-Help program, which requires participants to devote “sweat equity” toward the construction of their homes. Aspiring homeowners apply through a local non-profit group to see if they are eligible for a USDA housing loan. Once approved, they work in groups to help build each other’s homes. No family can move into the development or subdivision until every home is ready for occupancy.
While in North Carolina, Hooper visited Laurel Village Apartments located in Brevard, Transylvania County to recognize Meda McQueen, recipient of the National Site Managers of 2015 award. McQueen, one of four top site managers of 2015, was selected for the “elderly housing manager” category. Selections were made based upon tenant satisfaction with the manager and a combination of curb appeal of the property, timeliness and competency of maintenance, accurate and complete recordkeeping with no incidents of noncompliance, and actions of the manager consistently above and beyond what is required.
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The Obama Administration housing's policies are helping to strengthen rural communities and the overall rural economy. In 2014 alone, USDA helped more than 140,000 rural residents become homeowners, investing more than $19 billion in guaranteed loans. USDA also invested $808 million to help more than 6,500 rural residents buy homes through the Direct Loan Program.