Rural self-help housing technical assist

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Housing Service's Single Family Housing Program awarded Oregon Community Action Team Incorporated of Columbia County a $199,524 Project Grant on May 30, 2026, under the Rural Self-Help Housing Technical Assistance program (CFDA 10.420). The award, with a completion date of February 28, 2027, funds the delivery of comprehensive technical assistance services to enable very low- and low-income individuals and families in rural Oregon to construct their own homes through collaborative self-help methods. The organization will provide construction expertise, homebuyer education, financial counseling, and community outreach to guide participants through the self-help home building process, thereby enabling families to reduce housing costs through significant labor contributions and "sweat equity."

This award supports Oregon Community Action Team's established expertise in rural housing development and aligns with the organization's extensive portfolio of federal housing and community support programs. The Rural Self-Help Housing Technical Assistance program specifically targets communities where families cannot afford or obtain modest homes through conventional means, and the awardee's demonstrated capacity to deliver technical support positions it to effectively facilitate affordable homeownership in its service area.