Jul 8, 2007 3 min read

A work party of USDA Rural Development volunteers, in cooperation with Threshold Housing Development Corp. and homeowners-to-be, was recently held in the Threshold self-help housing subdivision in Redstone Township to celebrate National Homeownership Month. Threshold Housing was a past recipient of a technical assistance grant from USDA Rural Development under the Mutual Self-Help Program for Threshold to assist the families in the self-help program. Rural Development has provided self-help housing program funds since the late 1960s as well as technical assistance grants to nonprofit housing corporations, such as Threshold Housing to start and implement the program.

“Rural Development is committed to the future of rural communities and to helping as many people as possible achieve the American dream of homeownership,” said Gary H. Groves, state director. “Income eligible, rural, families are assisted every day with affordable housing through our direct and guaranteed loans as well as the self-help program,” Groves added.

Rural Development volunteers and others spent a day working on three homes in different stages of construction. Hanging siding, helping with electrical work, raising side walls and trusses and installing drain lines and stone in a foundation are examples of some of the sweat equity performed by the volunteers on the homes of the program’s future homeowners. Threshold Housing has built or rehabilitated homes for approximately 60 families. The organization’s objective is to help provide simple, adequate housing for residents of Fayette County with the ultimate goal to eliminate substandard housing in the county. Threshold works with the families by providing the assistance and training necessary to fulfill the goals of the self-help housing program. It works closely with other social services in the area to seek prospective homeowners and to give them support in their quest of homeownership. The self-help housing program allows families to work together to build their own homes to achieve home ownership. Eligible families supply the necessary labor by working 30-35 hours per week during their spare time (evenings, weekends and days off) so as to not interfere with the regular family employment. The grant to Threshold Housing from Rural Development permits them to hire skilled staff to assist the families, purchase tools, rent office facilities and pay for mileage. Financing is available from Rural Development’s 502 rural housing loan (interest rates range from 1 percent to the market rate, depending on the family’s adjusted annual income; repayment period is 33 or 38 years and no down payment is required). In order to qualify, the participants must be creditworthy, have repayment ability and be at 80 percent of median income or below, along with other criteria.

For more information on programs offered by USDA Rural Development, call the state office at 717-237-2299 or visit its Web site at www.rurdev.usda.-gov/pa.