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May, 2015 - In This Issue

Self-Help Enterprises is incredibly grateful to Ferguson, a national distributor of tank and plumbing supplies with branches in Visalia and Fresno, for partnering with us to assist communities and families affected by the drought. Through the partnership, Ferguson provides 1,500 to 2,500 gallon water storage tanks at a discounted rate and waives the freight charge to deliver the tanks and plumbing supplies - a cost savings to date of over $8,000, which allows us to help more families whose wells have gone dry.
JOIN OUR TEAM
Self-Help Enterprises offers an exciting work environment where you can bring your high caliber skills to a true career opportunity and impact the world around you.

We have openings for an Office Tech responsible for general office and clerical duties, a  Loan Processor responsible for recruitment of participants, determination of program eligibility, loan processing and packaging; a Community Development Specialist responsible for assisting rural low-income communities in obtaining safe drinking water and sanitary sewer disposal facilities; and a  Drought Project Developer responsible for drought relief efforts in the San Joaquin Valley. Learn more here.
HOMEOWNERSHIP CELEBRATION

Self-Help Enterprises and dozens of other organizations across the country, in partnership with the National Rural Self-Help Housing Association and the USDA Rural Development, celebrate the 50th year and the building of the 50,000th home in America since the inception of the Mutual Self-Help Housing Program.

 

Self-Help Enterprises will hold a celebration event in conjunction with NeighborWorks Week and National Homeownership Month on June 8th, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m., at 412 Capistrano Street in Arvin, CA where 20 families are currently building their new, safe, affordable homes. This community event, which is open to the public, will include a wall raising and a catered lunch. We are honored to have in attendance Congressman David Valadao, USDA Rural Housing Services Administrator Tony Hernandez, NeighborWorks America Pacific Director Senior Relationship Manager Joe Dabek, and Arvin Mayor Jose Flores.

  

Learn more here. RSVP to Julie Scaife at (559) 802-1612 or JulieS@selfhelpenterprises.org.  
HOMEOWNERSHIP EDUCATION CLASS OFFERED
Self-Help Enterprises is offering a Spanish HUD-approved Homebuyer Education class to prepare prospective homebuyers on the homebuying process.

 

The classes will be held in Spanish at Self-Help Enterprises on June 8 and June 15 from 5:30 pm to 9 pm. Cost is $50 and prospective homebuyers must attend both sessions.

 

Class participants will receive a certificate of completion that could qualify buyers for valuable first-time homebuyer programs like down payment and closing cost assistance.

 

Learn more here. To register, please call 559-802-1672.  
PLANADA WASTEWATER TREATMENT FACILITY UPGRADE 
Staff from Self-Help Enterprises' Community Development department joined the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development and the Planada Community Services District to break ground on Planada's long-awaited wastewater treatment plant.

Self-Help Enterprises has been working with the Planada Community Service District on this project, which will upgrade and expand Planada's wastewater treatment facility as well as change how the community disposes their treated wastewater. The project, which has been in development for 12 years, will consist of constructing two new sewer water treatment ponds. Once completed, the water treatment plant will safely dispose treated water and allow for future growth of the community.
COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS AWARDED

For the 2015-2016 academic year, Self-Help Enterprises has awarded $6,500 in scholarships to nine local students.

 

The Doris "Do" Dooley Scholarship, named after Self-Help Enterprises' former Board member, was established to help the children of families who have participated in one of our programs.

The awards went to: 

  • Arturo Corona: Arturo lives with his mother and siblings in a home they built in Lindsay. He has a 3.8 GPA and has been accepted to UC Berkeley.
     
  • Guadalupe Carrillo: Guadalupe's farmworker parents built their home in Reedley. She has passed the tests for seven AP courses and will be attending Fresno State.

  • Miguel Flores: Miguel and his family live in the Casitas del Sol multifamily rental community. He attends Livingston High School where he excels at multiple sports. Miguel has applied to UC Berkeley where he wants to study solar engineering.
     
  • Andrea Lopez: Andrea lives in a home built by her parents in Dos Palos. She maintains a 4.0 GPA and has been accepted to Fresno State where she will study criminology.
     
  • Marylee Herrejon: Marylee's family built their home in Reedley. She came to the U.S. with her family when she was five. Marylee has been accepted to Fresno State where she plans to be a teacher so she may impact the lives of migrant children. 
     
  • Sequoia Jordan: Sequoia and her brother live in a home purchased by their single mother through the Homebuyer Assistance Program in Chowchilla. She was a five-sport athlete at Chowchilla high while maintaining a 4.0 GPA. She has been accepted to Fresno Pacific University.
     
  • Estephania Manzo: Estephania and her family live in the Almond Court multifamily rental community. She is in her second year at CSU Bakersfield and is on her way to becoming a social worker.
     
  • Jeny Reyes: Jeny is the daughter of a single mother who built their home in Goshen. She has been involved in on campus clubs and has registered at College of the Sequoias to become a nurse.
     
  • Natyeli Yepes: Natyeli is the daughter of farmworker parents who built their own home in Reedley. She is attending Reedley College and plans to transfer to UC Davis to pursue a degree in neurobiology.


Since 1997, Self-Help Enterprises has awarded 101 scholarships totaling $85,750 to deserving students.
Copyright ? 2015, Self-Help Enterprises
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