![](media/image1.jpeg){width="1.6736111111111112in"
height="0.9340277777777778in"}

***United States Department of Agriculture -- Rural Development***

***World Wide Web: <http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/ca>***

***Ben Higgins, State Director***

March 14, 2006 Contact: Bob Krauter

For Immediate Release Work: (530) 792-5803

Release No. 10.06 Cell: (916) 798-9295

**RURAL DEVELOPMENT CELEBRATES SELF-HELP HOUSING COMPLETION**

*\$!.7 million in loans helps 15 low-income families build homes in
Brawley*

Davis, Calif. -- The sounds of pinging hammers and buzzing saws are
gone, and now 15 low-income families are celebrating months of hard work
in building their own homes in Brawley. Today families will receive
certificates of completion from USDA Rural Development at the grand
opening event organized by Coachella Valley Housing Coalition. Rural
Development loans of \$1.7 million helped make the project a reality,
according to State Director Ben Higgins.

"Our involvement in the Self-Help Housing program is one of our most
gratifying efforts because we help make dreams come true for families
who would otherwise not be able to own a home," said Higgins. "These
families have completed months of learning, work and sweat equity and
now they can enjoy the rewards of having the keys to their homes."

Rural Development's Self-Help Housing Program makes loans to allow low
and very low income applicants to participate with their neighbors in
the construction of their homes with the help of a local construction
specialist.

"This program fosters a pride of ownership. The time and effort families
put in to construct their homes amounts to sweat equity, which serves as
a down payment on their new homes," said Higgins. "It is a great program
that helps people realize their dream of home ownership."

Higgins said the USDA Rural Development loans ranged from \$90,727 to
\$128,500 for the homeowners. Construction started in March 1, 2005 and
work on the last group of homes was completed in January 2006. Coachella
Valley Housing Coalition's Executive Director, John Mealey,
congratulated the new homeowners.

"The new homeowners have worked together 1,600 hours or more per family
\-\-- on weekends and in their spare time \-\-- to build these homes,"
said Mealey. "You can see the sense of pride and accomplishment on the
faces of these families. It is great to be part of this, and we
appreciate our partnership with USDA Rural Development."

**-more-**

**Page 2 -- Brawley Grand Opening**

Mealey said spring is a busy time for his organization. March 20 will
mark the groundbreaking of 200 new self-help homes in Mecca. On May 4,
CVHC will celebrate the grand opening of Paseo de Las Palmas, a 126
three- and four-bedroom home development in Coachella. Both the Mecca
and Coachella projects are funded by USDA Rural Development.

"We could not realize these projects without Rural Development funds.
The homes built in Brawley and to be built in Mecca are beautiful, as
are the other thousand or so homes we have developed in the Coachella
Valley," said Mealey. "They are a testament to the commitment of USDA
Rural Development to make our rural communities great places to live.
They are also a testament to the dedication of low-income, hard working
self-help homebuilders to provide a better future for their families."

USDA Rural Development\'s mission is to deliver programs in a way that
will support increasing economic opportunity and improve the quality of
life of rural residents. As a venture capital entity, Rural Development
has invested over \$63 billion since the beginning of the Bush
Administration to provide equity and technical assistance to finance and
foster growth in homeownership, business development, and critical
community and technology infrastructure. As a result, over 1.1 million
jobs have been created or saved through these investments. Further
information on rural programs is available by visiting the USDA Rural
Development California web site at <http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/ca>.

> \#

**Committed to the future of rural communities.**

**"USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender."**

**To file a complaint of discrimination write USDA, Director, Office of
Civil Rights, Room 326-W,**

**Whitten Building, 14^th^ and Independence Ave., SW Washington, D.C.
20250-9410**

**or call (202) 720-5964 (voice or TDD).**