Here at NeighborWorks, we never lose site of the fact of our biggest aim as an organization is to generate affordable housing for Rhode Islanders. On July 27, we were thrilled to participate in the Fernwood Ribbon Cutting ceremony!
Following a year of dedication to the construction of their homes through the USDA Mutual Self-Help Housing Program, eight different families were able to celebrate the results of hundreds of invested homeownership hours. The affordable homeownershp neighborhood in Pascoag, RI is now home to 30 homes–a feat that has taken nearly ten years to build. Employing one of our favorite new homeowner techniques, self-help housing, Fernwood is built in part by the homeowners themselves in an effort to preserve affordability within the 30-unit neighborhood.
The ribbon-cutting ceremony, which was followed by tours of the newly completed homes, was rich with a multitude of ceremonial speakers. Highlights of the ceremony included introductory comments from NWBRV Executive Director Joe Garlick and a welcome from Burrillville Town Councilor Kevin McDaniel. Speakers included Self-Help Housing Homeowner Janisse Lee-Rodriquez, Senator Jack Reed, Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, Christopher Lyon, USDA Rural Development, Secretary Goddard, RI Executive Office of Housing, Navigant Credit Union, Kathleen E. Amonte, Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston, Carol Ventura, RI Housing, Emily Rosenbaum, NeighborWorks America, Jeanne Cola, LISC and Melina Lodge, Housing Network of Rhode Island.
“Fernwood was a beautiful dream! I can only presume that it must have been a wild thing to present a project of this magnitude and to get others to believe in and advocate for it; where a major component of its viability would be the homeowners themselves,” Fernwood resident Janisse Rodriguez shared. “It required people like Dyanah from Neighborworks and Paul “boots to the ground” Paul, to bring this project into fruition.”
The ‘Mutual Self Help Housing’ program, USDA Rural Development’s unique and innovative initiative, gives qualified first-time homebuyers the opportunity to work under the supervision of a construction manager to help build their own homes. Families work in teams, committing to 30 to 35 hours of work each week to building each other’s homes until the development is complete. This ‘sweat equity’ cuts the cost of each home nearly in half, making the dream of homeownership affordable for low- to moderate-income families.
When presented with this opportunity I did welcome the challenge, but I was also apprehensive at times. During these past 20 months, my neighbors, my children and myself not only learned residential construction but we learned each other. We endured harsh weather; faced fears, feelings of inadequacy, botched schedules, were at times incompetent, at times competent. We also delegated tasks according to our abilities. Collectively we grew tired, excited, anxious, frustrated, angry, proud…but through it all, we were all resilient. The mission remained, we stayed on the course until completion. Community was the vision?! Community we got! I feel safe to raise my family in a trusting neighborhood, I have peace living in a home I can afford. I have security where I live. Fernwood was a beautiful dream. Success!”
Fernwood resident Janisse Rodriguez
The homes at Fernwood are located on individual lots within a cul-de-sac neighborhood on George Eddy Drive off of Reservoir Road in the village of Pascoag in Burrillville. Each home includes three bedrooms, 1.5 baths and is set on 1/3 of an acre of land within the development. The houses are designed to reflect the character of historic homes in the area. In addition to physically building their homes, homeowners choose the color and style of their house (Saltbox or Early American) prior to construction. They select the layout, the colors, and finishes, making their houses truly their own.
Rising housing costs have pushed homeownership out of reach for too many Rhode Island families. Federal investment supported the Fernwood development, which pairs interested families with construction professionals to build their own homes. Innovative developments like this one increase affordable housing options while forging a sense of community among neighbors.”
U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse
The development stands on roughly 14 acres, preserving the surrounding open space. The site allows residents to live in a rural setting, with all the amenities of downtown Pascoag nearby. The new structures are Energy Star rated, built to conserve water, and feature renewable materials. Fernwood was awarded a 2019 Outstanding Smart Growth Project Award from Grow Smart RI for its compact design and preservation of natural resources and open space. Its location, particularly quiet and without streetlights, illustrates its commitment to these design principles.
NeighborWorks is excited to offer the sweat equity model of affordable homeownership in Rhode Island. It is not for the faint hearted, but for those who are able to put in the time and effort, this is a great opportunity to own their own. The ‘Selfies’ are the State’s frontline affordable housing do-ers. We celebrate them for their grit and determination to put a roof over their heads. We also acknowledge the support of our Federal, State & local partners who make it all possible with the financing and other financial support.”
Joe Garlick, Executive Director of NeighborWorks Blackstone River Valley.
Fernwood was made possible through the support of the USDA, Navigant Credit Union, the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston, RI Housing Resources Commission, RI Housing, the Rhode Island Foundation, RI LISC, and the Housing Network of RI.
