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Home > Desert Oracle Radio > Self-Help Housing Program to host informational session on July 12 for those who dream of home ownership
Podcast: Desert Oracle Radio
Episode:

Self-Help Housing Program to host informational session on July 12 for those who dream of home ownership
Category: Society & Culture
Duration: 00:00:00
Publish Date: 2025-07-08 14:02:48
Description:

On Saturday, July 12th, the Coachella Valley Housing Coalition (CVHC) is partnering with the city of Twentynine Palms to host an informational session about a Self-Help Housing Program that would enable qualified residents to build and own their own home.

The program, which has been going for 30 years, allows 10 families to form an ‘informal association’ to help build 10 houses under the direction of a construction supervisor. Participants must commit to 40 hours a week of construction work and this would include the applicant, a co-applicant and any approved helpers. (Currently, such homes are being built in Salton City, Brawley, and Imperial.) The CVHC uses USDA grants and other government subsidies to finance the program.

Councilmember Octavious Scott initially introduced the program to the city as he himself grew up in one of the self-built homes in Palm Springs.

“My mom was part of a batch of homes that was built in the Gateway Estates in Palm Springs. She helped to build the house. And so I saw the benefit in it, and a lot of the people that I grew up with, you know, we all still own those homes. It’s still in our families. And so I think it’s good, it’s generational wealth.

“It’s not an easy program. I don’t want to give people to be like it’s an easy handout, it’s not an easy handout. It’s not easy to work 40 hours a week but for those that are able to do it, and they want to do it, it’s going to be good for our community. It’s going to be good for our community in a lot of different ways.

“And when these people build their own homes, they have pride in community, they have pride in their home. They’re more likely to take care of that property because they built that property. And so I think that’s the type of spirit that Twentynine Palms residents respect, and I think that the people of Twentynine Palms would totally jump on a program like this.”

For this event, only residents of Twentynine Palms are eligible, and should expect to provide their annual income. Attendees should bring a copy of a recent credit check, if possible, though not required. Qualifying income levels for this program fall roughly between $30K-$90K annually and the mortgage would be based on the applicant’s income.The event will take place on Saturday, July 12, from 10:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. at the recreation center at 74362 Joe Davis Drive, across from Luckie Park.

For more info about the Self-Help Housing Program, check out https://www.cvhc.org/home-ownership/.
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