Affordable Housing

The City is a Participating Jurisdiction, who receives federal funds directly from the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and looks for opportunities to apply for State grants related to affordable housing.  The City of Visalia strives to provide safe, decent and affordable housing to a range of income owner-occupants, renters, senior citizens and disabled persons.  The City’s proposed goals and objectives are presented in the federally-mandated Consolidated Plan and Annual Action Plan.  

Self-Help Enterprises, Inc., (SHE-CHDO) Acquisition/Rehabilitation Programs
The City of Visalia has been working with Self Help Enterprises (SHE), Inc. as a 501 C non-profit certified Community Housing Development Organization (CHDO) in utilizing HOME–CHDO funding to acquire existing single and multi-family properties in Visalia.  Contact Self Help Enterprises to inquire about available homes to purchase and availability of rental units in their Visalia multi-family projects. You may contact Self Help Enterprises staff at (559) 651-1000, or view their website under “Homes for Sale”: http://www.selfhelpenterprises.org/programs/buy-a-home/.

The  Multi-family Rental and Homeownership Development guide was written to assist staff with reviewing and underwriting projects, evaluating the development and fiscal capacity of developers and ensuring that there is adequate need for projects based on neighborhood market conditions.  The Guide includes, but is not limited to resources related to eligible uses of HOME funds, HOME requirements, project underwriting, examining market conditions, and what documentation is required from a Developer.

Projects and Programs are developed and approved by City Council through the Consolidated Plan and Annual Action Plan process. Before committing funds to a project, the City will evaluate the project in accordance with HOME regulations and guidelines that it has adopted for this purpose and will not invest any additional HOME funds, in combination with other governmental assistance, than is necessary to provide affordable housing.  It is the intent to work with local developers and non-profit agencies, including the City’s certified CHDO in providing affordable rental and homeownership housing for Visalia residents.

These programs enables the City to revitalize neighborhoods, rehabilitate foreclosed homes, employ local contractors, and resell homes to pre-qualified buyers with fixed rate mortgages.  

We welcome your questions on these programs, please contact Margie Perez, Housing Specialist, at (559) 713-4460 or email at [email protected].

City of Visalia Charter