CHRISTINA EICHELKRAUT / PVT Family members flex their own muscles and skills as they put up their own homes as part of the CAHI program in Pahrump. Their construction efforts take the place of down payments. Advertisement

"It's the coolest," said Michelle Shelton, with a big smile on her face. She was referring to the construction site at which she was working, where she stood on the foundation of what in a few months will be her new home.

Shelton, along with four other future homeowners, have been working with Citizens for Affordable Housing Inc. (CAHI), a nonprofit organization that helps families to literally build their own homes.

The organization, which have been active in Nevada since March 1993 and opened up a local office in Pahrump three years ago, helps low-income and very-low-income families to become homeowners by allowing them to employ their own labor in lieu of down payments.

Lawrence said many CAHI applicants were not necessarily at poverty level but were people who simply could not afford the cost of a down payment on a home, such as teachers or government workers.

Mortgages for CAHI homes are funded through the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development Program. Interest rates on the mortgages range from 1 to 6.25 percent.

Lawrence said a lot of the program is based on making information available to people.

"There are so many programs that the U.S. government offers that no one knows about," said Lawrence.

CAHI works by bringing together a group of families, usually four or five, and having them work together to build each other's houses. They complete one phase of construction on each house before moving on to the next phase, and all of the families move into their brand-new houses at the same time.

CAHI provides an on-site supervisor who helps with the construction and teaches family members how to complete the construction.

They are taught how to build the homes through classes during which they learn how to use power tools, build sawhorses, and other basics of construction.

"It'll work pretty good as long as you get people who'll work together," said Sonny Burtt, the foreman and on-site supervisor for CAHI projects in Pahrump.

"The best part is people getting all excited about their houses," said Burtt. "I've met some really good people."

Much of this work is done during weekends. Families help frame the homes, paint them, hang cabinets, install siding, roofing, and performing other basic construction work. Plumbing and electrical work are sub-contracted, but families are asked to perform 65 percent of the labor to construct the homes.

They also pour the concrete for driveways and patios, although recently, on the last four houses built by CAHI, Ledcore and Precision Concrete from Las Vegas volunteered manpower and concrete for the task.

CAHI has several models of homes available, including two-, three-, and four-bedroom models with one and half to two bathrooms. Models also include one and a half and two-vehicle car garages.

"Inspectors say that our houses are some of the best they see, because it's not just that they're built to code, but they're built with love," said Lawrence.

The requirements for CAHI eligibility are based on USDA requirements. To qualify, a person must have an income of $22,000 per year, and the maximum income for a family of four in Nye County is $47,300. The applicant must be willing to contribute 35 hours a week to the construction of the home, which can be divided into 17-1/2 hours each between the head of the household and a spouse, building partner or volunteer.

Also, the applicant cannot have been bankrupt during the previous three years and has to be able to demonstrate the ability to repay the loan. However, CAHI does offer credit counseling services free of charge.

As well, an applicant cannot have owned a house during the previous three years.

Recently in Pahrump, CAHI has finished building four homes and is beginning construction of five more. It hopes to have completed 17 homes by March.

CAHI holds a "Self-Help Housing Information Seminar" on the third Tuesday of each month at 6 p.m. The seminar takes place at the CAHI office, 2280 E. Calvada Blvd., Suite 201. To RSVP, or for any additional information on CAHI, call (775) 727-9981.