self-help: Self-help neighborhood nearly complete

Family workers are building more than just structures in the Pearson Self-Help Neighborhood — they're building a community. "You can buy a house and not know anybody on your street," said Vicki Alvis, a single mother of four who helped build her house as part of the program. ADVERTISEMENT "Here, I feel like I know them and their extended family," she said. "It's been more than building a house." Since May of last year, 10 families, their relatives and community volunteers have been working to build houses in the development just off Upper River Road. Now most of the houses only have finishing touches remaining to be completed. The Pearson Self-Help Neighborhood is part of a Rural Development Mutual Self-Help program from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Neighborhood Housing Services. Under the program, families work together to build all the houses, then all move in together when all are completed. The Pearson Self-Help Neighborhood is scheduled to hold an open house at 12:30 p.m. Friday and move-in dates are expected by May 15. Between 65 to 70 volunteers also helped out in the construction process, each logging 32 hours a week for almost a year, said MeLinda L. Suhr, group coordinator for NHS. Suhr said the 10 families are anxiously looking forward to moving in, and the experience of building their own homes helped some overcome initial doubts. "(Alvis) really didn't think she could do this in the beginning," Suhr said. "And her and her mom did this." Alvis said though it was hard work, crew members such as construction supervisor Buck Beaudry helped encourage her to finish the job. "He had a lot to do with feeling like you could do it and get it right," she said. "When I first came out, it was a stick in the ground. Then the foundation went up, then the walls, then boom. "Look at all of this," Alvis said, looking around her spacious four-bedroom home. Alvis' mother, Lori Humble, said she became known as "Mom" by the other families and volunteers. When the house was finally carpeted, it wasn't just another job complete, Humble said. It was almost like a sign post saying you're close to home after a long journey. "I cried when I saw the carpet go in," she said. "I was upstairs just crying like a baby." On the as-of-yet-unmarked road in an as-of-yet-uninhabited house where new friends were brought together, each sharing a common goal, Alvis is ready for her family's future to begin again. "My cup runneth over," Alvis said. "I'm truly blessed." Reach Tribune Staff Writer Clifton Adcock at 791-6560, (800) 438-6600 or cadcock@greatfal.gannett.com. Originally published May 5, 2006