Alliance Working w/Self-Help Housing Program

Many workers at Effingham area businesses and industries dream of owning their own home.

A program being endorsed by The Effingham County Regional Growth Alliance is designed to bring those dreams to fruition.

(CRAIG NIELSON OF THE ALLIANCE)

The program, known simply as Self-Help Housing, is being pursued in cooperation with Illinois Affordable Housing.

The basic plan is to utilize four lots in North Point Estates in Dieterich. Four families will be qualified and approved for the program. The homeowners must build at least 60% of the home, under the direction of a general contractor provided by the program. The four participating families are welcome to help each other with the homebuilding process.

The lot price to the homeowner is $10,000 to $15,000 to help fund the program. The cost to The Alliance and the IAH is $4,000 each.

The Alliance will fund half the cost of the program, and will receive half the revenue, after expenses.

Another consideration is pursuing the program is the dwindling labor pool. The Effingham County unemployment rate in April was down to 2.8%. The goal is to keep the program going if this first effort proves successful, in hopes of attracting more good workers to the area.

More information about Self-Help Housing is available at http://selfhelphousingspotlight.org/. You can also contact The Alliance at 217-342-4214.

Alliance Executive Director Craig Nielson was a guest on The Morning Show Wednesday to discuss Self-Help Housing. Here's that interview...