Location: Southern Idaho

Problem: Low-income families in Southern Idaho lack affordable home ownership opportunities.

Solution: RCAC works with South Central Community Action Partnership (SCCAP) to secure US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Mutual Self-Help Housing Program funds and help low-income families to achieve home ownership.

When a much needed Southern Idaho self-help grantee withdrew from the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Mutual Self-Help Housing Program during the housing market downturn, both self-help housing (USDA Section 523 grant) funds and planned homes were at risk. South Central Community Action Partnership (SCCAP) agreed to step in, apply for the unspent funds and ensure that low-income rural Idaho families could achieve their home ownership dreams.

Together with USDA, RCAC helped the organization’s board of directors apply for and assume the unspent 523 grant funds and, because SCCAP had no experience managing a self-help program, provided training to a new program administrator. They also developed marketing and outreach plans for SSCAP’s service areas.

SCCAP has completed 36 homes with eight more under construction and near completion.

Families who participate in the self-help program perform at least 65 percent of the construction work to build their homes. This labor, known as sweat-equity, along with an affordable mortgage through the USDA Section 502 loan program, provides home ownership opportunities to families who would not otherwise qualify for market rate homes.