By Careen Wong
Self-Help Enterprises, which has served the San Joaquin Valley for 50 years, arrived in Madera this week to turn the American dream of homeownership into reality for many needy families.
Families or individuals who qualified for Self-Help Enterprises housing were divided into groups of eight to 12 and were trained by construction supervisors to build their own homes.
“We teach them step by step,” said Ricardo Arvizu, the construction superintendent from Self-Help who overlooked the construction in Parksdale, a Madera suburb. “Some people don’t even know nail sizes so I have to teach them everything, like how to use.”
These individuals were then put to work building not only their own houses but also other houses in their soon-to-be community...