The Community Housing Improvement Program is working hard to get Camp Fire survivors back home, not in Paradise or Magalia, but in Biggs.
CHIP is a nonprofit corporation that provides low-income families an opportunity for homeownership.
The program is now accepting applications for 10 solar-powered homes to be built in Biggs, with priority for families burned out in the Camp Fire.
CHIP Housing Specialist Judy Orozco explains the basics of the program.
“If you would like to be considered for priority for Camp Fire survivors we do ask for people to submit their application by the 31st,” Orozco said. “We will be reviewing income and credit. Credit does not have to be perfect. The interest rate is a fixed interest rate with low affordable payments. Families do work about 30 hours a week until all the homes are completed and that’s kind of like considered the down-payment.”
CHIP President and CEO Seana O’Shaughnessy points to the sense of community that comes from the families’ combined effort.
“One of the things that is just so special about the work of the self-help program is that families build each other’s homes, and so they’re not only working on their own home they’re working on their neighbor’s home and so they’re able to create that sense of community,” O’Shaughnessy said.
The application deadline for priority consideration is Dec. 31. Find more information at chiphousing.org.
