Barbara Beard-Hinton, Assistant to the State Director for Rural Development in North Carolina, Mel Ellis, Director, Single Family Housing and Rich Davis, Acting Deputy Administrator, Single Family Housing sponsored a Self Help Housing Listening Forum at the McKimmon Conference Center at North Carolina State University in Raleigh on March 12.
There were 42 persons in attendance. The purpose of the forum was to create new ideas and promote the USDA Self Help Housing Program. The program, which is very popular, allows families to work together under the direction of a contractor to build their own homes. The process often takes a year and, upon completion, the work participants do on their houses becomes their “sweat equity.”
The listening forum was moderated by Scott Farmer, Director of Rental Investment, NC Housing Finance Agency. North Carolina currently has five active grantees. Four of the five grantees were in attendance and provided valuable input based on their experience with the Self Help program.
Written by Delane Johnson, Public Information Specialist
