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Outline of Need:
Melisha Rivera, a twenty-year old single mother of a ten-month old son, normally would have had to wait years before she could obtain the financial resources to become a homeowner.
However, a unique adventure took place last year on our nation's front yard. For the first time ever, a home was built from scratch on the National Mall. The 816 square foot, three-bedroom house was built during the Smithsonian Folklife Festival. The now owner of the "Little House on the Mall" is Ms. Rivera. Her boyfriend, mother, and cousin all helped in the construction of her home.
How Rural Development Helped:
This was a joint effort of USDA, the Smithsonian Folklife Festival, and Proyecto Azteca, a Texas nonprofit organization from the Rio Grande Valley Empowerment Zone. The home was constructed under Rural Development's Mutual Self-help Housing Program, where prospective homeowners dig in and help in the construction of their future home. Prospective homeowners do about 65 percent of the construction work.
This "sweat equity" reduces the cost of the home and enables individuals in rural areas to become homeowners..
The Results:
Under the Mutual Self-Help Housing Program, Ms. Rivera's new home was purchased for half of its normal selling price, and her mortgage is less than the rent for an average apartment. The house was moved to Brawners Estates on Bryans Road in Charles County, Maryland.
Ms. Rivera is very grateful to Rural Development to helping her dream of owning her own home become a reality.
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