-by Josephine Zimmerman – Daily Herald
PROVO – Up to 20 families living in the Salem, Payson and Santaquin areas may have the opportunity for home ownership, thanks to a new program developed by the Housing Authority of Utah County. Gene Carly, executive director of the Housing Authority, said the authority recently formed the Rural Housing Development Corporation to create affordable housing opportunities for low-income families in the rural parts of central Utah. The corporation has just received a $10,000 development grant from the United States Department of Agriculture-Rural Development, Carly announced. The grant will be used to develop a program that will let low-income families contribute labor toward the construction of their own homes. This is called Mutual Self-Help Housing, Carly said. The grant will be used to determine whether there is enough interest in starting up such a program in this area. He explained that under the concept, a group of homeowners working as a team must provide “sweat equity” to build not only their home but work on each home within the group. All homes must be completed before any family can move in. Anyone interested in receiving more information on the program is encouraged to call the Housing Authority of Utah County at 373-9333 and ask for Gene Carly, extension 108, or Brad Bishop, extension 106.
