Martha Ruiz and Jacob Cox recently completed construction on a home they built in Dos Palos through our self-help housing program.

Before that, Martha, Jacob and their two children, ages 3 and 5, lived in a poorly insulated apartment that they could barely afford, even though Jacob works full time at a metal fabrication plant. Their apartment was in what they called a “rough neighborhood” where they were concerned about the safety of their children.

Affordable housing for people like Martha and Jacob can only be built when resources to build them are available. The last time the state of California made a significant investment in affordable housing was in 2006 ... and that money is gone.