Construction is Underway on Self-Help Housing in Palouse, Washington

PALOUSE, Wash. – Construction is underway on the Self-Help Housing Project in Palouse, Washington.  Self-Help Housing is a program offered by Community Action Center in Pullman.  The program helps moderate to low income families in Whitman County become homeowners without a down payment and an affordable monthly mortgage payment. 

It works like this: Community Action Center plans the entire build process and provides additional contractor support and labor.  The future homeowner contributes to their down payment with Sweat Equity.  They learn easy tasks like painting, landscaping, and clean-up.  Community Action Center provides the needed materials and training to complete their work.  The homeowner only provides the labor and tools, and they have the ability to move into a new home without a down payment.  The estimated out-of-pocket expense to the homeowner is approximately $2,000 for closing costs.  Community Action Center also works with the home buyer to find a low or moderate interest loan so the monthly mortgage payment is something the family can afford.  The homeowner is able to complete the tasks at their own pace. 

The Community is welcome to stop by the building site and see what could be their neighborhood.  A family of two adults will contribute a minimum of 100 hours finishing their new home.  The site is off of

Palouse Cove Road

and Route Sixty Six in Palouse.  The neighborhood is a five minute walk to downtown Palouse, with easy access to the surrounding communities.  The homes are one or two stories, have three or four bedrooms, and each has a beautiful view of the rolling hills of the Palouse.  Prices start at just 172,500 dollars. 

People may pick up an application at the building site, download one online at http://www.whitmanhomeowner.org/, or they can call Community Action Center, 509-334-9147. 

Community Action Center is located at

350 SE Fairmont Road #1

, in Pullman.