Mutual
Housing (MH) is a means by which low-income families support
each other by sharing their collective labor and skills
in the design and construction of
one another’s homes. CCA supports their efforts by providing
technical assistance in site selection, project design,
cost estimating, permitting and approval process, and
project financing. Once work begins, CCA provides project
management and project support. CCA also conducts information
and training workshops on construction techniques and homeownership.
 The
MH approach uses sweat-equity (the group’s labor), creative
project financing (low interest loans and grants), low-cost
property acquisition, a tool library and other means to produce
and maintain affordable houses for low income families. MH
can be the renovation of existing buildings or new construction.
MH can be located in an urban or village setting, or a rural
area. MH’s sites, can be situated next to one another or be
scattered throughout a
program area. Home ownership models could be
traditional or non-traditional. Housing design features can
be conventional or include any number of options, such as,
working/living space, environmental sensitivity, shared housing,
and special attention to physical accessibility or aging-in-place
considerations for the elderly.
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