Self-help housing meeting this evening

Lower Columbia Community Action Program (CAP) is looking for nine families to build their homes in Cathlamet through its Self-Help Housing Program.

There will be an informational meeting this evening (Thursday) at the River Street Meeting room (in back of building), 25 River Street in Cathlamet, at 6 p.m., to explain the program and to answer people’s questions.

“This will be the first time we are building homes in Wahkiakum County,” said Gregg Bournival, Self-Help Housing Program Manager, in a news release. “We’re very excited about that.”

Bournival said that CAP has an option to purchase nine lots in the Glengate Loop area in Cathlamet.

“What makes this program attractive is that people don’t need to have the 20 percent down payment,” said Bournival. In place of a down payment, families provide “sweat equity,” by committing to work a minimum of 30 hours each week on the housing project.

“We work with people to secure affordable Rural Development (USDA) loans, and walk them through the mountain of paperwork,” said Juanita Burnham, Self-Help Housing projects assistant.

Families agree to build their homes under the guidance of CAP’s construction supervisors. The families work on all of the houses in the development. No one moves into their home until all the homes are completed.

People interested in learning more about CAP’s Self-Help Housing Program are encouraged to attend the meeting on May 29, or they can call Juanita Burnham at 360-425-3430 ext 222, or visit the CAP website at http://www.lowercolumbiacap.org, under “Get Help,” then “Housing.” , under “Get Help,” then “Housing.”