Neighborhood Nonprofit Housing building again in Nibley

This "Kensington" home in Smithfield is one of the many models of home to choose from in the local Neighborhood Non-Profit housing program. The program is currently accepting applications to build in Nibley and Richmond. 

NIBLEY – Neighborhood Nonprofit Housing (NNHC) is a community development corporation based in northern Utah with a mission to create affordable housing opportunities.

<p class=”p1″>One of the corporation’s most popular programs is the Mutual Self-Help Housing program where families work together to build their homes.

<p class=”p1″>Thursday in Nibley there will be a celebration of the 300 self help homes built so far in northern Utah combined with a groundbreaking for the next building phase in that community.   

<p class=”p1″>“We will have all of the 10 homes open with the owner-builders available to show you through the homes and talk to you about the experience,” said Kim Datwyler, executive director of Neighborhood Nonprofit. “We will also have our new group that will be building this summer have their gold shovels out there turning dirt.”

<p class=”p1″>Datwyler acknowledges funding for the program has become an increasing challenge.

<p class=”p1″>“We have seen for the past several years funding has been limited and this year we expect to see funds for the loans for the families will end in late-July. We encourage people to come in and talk to us if they want to do the program. It’s a great program and once those funds are gone it may be next spring before we see any new funding.”

<p class=”p1″>Families working as a group do 65 percent of the work. They are not required to have construction experience.

<p class=”p1″>“These homes are Energy Star rated and I believe it is true we are the only Energy Star rated builder in the valley. You get a well built home with a monthly payment that starts at $550, depending on your household size and income. There is no down payment requirement, your sweat equity acts as that.”

<p class=”p1″>The Thursday event in Nibley means the program has come full circle since the first few NNHC homes were built there in 2001.

<p class=”p1″>A ceremony begins at Nibley City Hall at 2 p.m. before adjourning to the building site for an open house and ground breaking at 3 p.m.

<p class=”p1″>Datwyler said more information is available at <a href=”http://www.nnhc.net” target=”_blank”>nnhc.net</a>.

<p class=”p1″>“Don’t be discouraged by the thought that you can’t build your own home because no one comes in thinking they can build their own home. Just come in with the thought that you can work 35 hours a week with your new neighbors to build new homes together.”

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