Building Houses—and Community Learn how Chico’s Community Housing Improvement Program gives people the opportunity to build their own home— from the ground up BY ANNE STOKES
Jennifer Palafox and Hector Rubio have built their home — and their family’s future — through CHIP’s Self Help Program. PHOTO BY MICHELLE CAMY
O
wning a home is the crown jewel in the American most of the people, they’ll tell you they’re happy they Dream. Particularly in California’s current housing built it and they’re proud they did it. Not that many market, however, home ownership is increasingly people now can say they’ve built their own house.” out of reach for many families. And it’s not just houses that get built. For new But for those willing to put in the work, CHIP’s Selfhomeowner David Gonzalez Jr., the most rewarding part Help Program can help make that dream a reality. of the program was building a new community. “We had always thought we were going to save “The whole process was building a really strong up, but there’s just nothing out in the market for foundation for a great community,” Gonzalez says. “I anything cheap nowadays. Every year, you think, have a great relationship with my ‘I’m going to save up,’ and the prices neighbors. Building together, just go up,” says homeowner Jennifer that’s what helped that.” Palafox. “Especially after the fires. … For Palafox, however, Before the fires happened, there the most important That’s going was plenty of real estate, but foundation they creafter, there was nothing.” ated was her family’s to be for my kids’ CHIP’s program offers qualifuture. future and they fied first-time homebuyers like “You want your Palafox and her husband, Hector house to stand for a know they’ll always Rubio, the opportunity and suphundred years and have a safe home to port to build their own home. In leave a legacy for lieu of a down payment, particiyour kids if you decide come to.” pants pay in “sweat equity,” buildto pass it down. It’s not Jennifer Palafox Homeowner ing not just their house, but helping a rental home, you want their new neighbors build their homes to make it a home, and too. In December 2021, Palafox, Rubio that’s what we were able to and their three children were able to move into do with this group,” she says. “I their new home after renting for 11 years. think that’s the end goal for everybody, “It’s really enjoyable when you start from the ground to be able to have a house they can come home to [up] and you build your own house. In the end you feel and know, ‘That’s mine. That’s going to be for my kids’ a lot of pride, all the work that’s gone in, and not just future and they know they’ll always have a safe home into your home, but everyone’s home that you helped to come to.’” build,” Rubio says. “When you’re all done, if you talk to PAID ADVERTISEMENT
For more information about CHIP, visit chiphousing.org or call 1-888-912-4663.