June 3, 2002, Topeka, Kansas-- U.S. Senator Pat Roberts visited with families in partnership with the USDA Rural Development Mutual Self-Help Program and Mennonite Housing Rehabilitation Services, Inc. in Valley Center, Kansas on May 31, 2002, along with Chuck Banks, State Director for Kansas USDA Rural Development.

Senator Roberts addressed the Program’s participants and community officials, commenting that he was very proud of the accomplishments of the partnership by improving housing in the area and very supportive of the Mutual Self-Help Program administered by USDA Rural Development. State Director Chuck Banks congratulated the families on their achievement and thanked the Mennonite Housing and Senator Roberts for their support of USDA Rural Development programs.

Since June, 2000, 17 families have built homes in Valley Center through the Self-Help Program and Mennonite Housing is working with USDA Rural Development for 19 additional Self-Help homes to be built in the Wichita area.

In this program, a group of 5 to 12 families work together under the guidance of a construction supervisor, hired by a nonprofit housing developer. The families perform at least 65% of the construction work.

The Mutual Self-Help Program concept builds more than just homes; communities are developed and friendships are created.

To learn more about this and other USDA Rural Development projects, you may log onto the National USDA website at: www.usda.gov, or the Kansas Rural Development website at: www.rurdev.usda.gov/ks/