Florida families build homes to lower costs
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In Florida, low-income families are partnering with organizations like Florida Home Partnership to build their own homes and reduce expenses.
A $28 million investment from the USDA will support this “mutual self-help housing” model across the country, including new projects in Ruskin. The funding allows families to trade labor for reduced costs, filling a financial gap that often prevents homeownership.
This approach differs from traditional housing programs by valuing families’ work as a contribution toward buying a house, rather than solely relying on financial subsidies. The USDA anticipates the funding will support the construction of 579 new homes and the rehabilitation of 181 others for low- and very-low-income households nationwide. Yvette Dickinson, a U.S. Army veteran and single mother, used the program to build a home for her daughters.
She later became an employee of Florida Home Partnership and a certified builder, demonstrating the program’s potential to build skills and create career opportunities within the community. Florida Home Partnership has used the USDA 502 Mutual Self-Help Housing program in southern Hillsborough County for 30 years. The program offers benefits beyond affordability, including no down payment requirements, stronger community connections, and potentially lower interest rates.
