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<section article="ghs" article_name="Housing and Community Development" number="4-1702" title_number="4" title_name="Division of Development Finance" subtitle_number="17" subtitle_name="Self-Help Homeownership Technical Assistance Program">
  <text>The General Assembly finds that:</text>
  <level label="1">
    <text>homeownership is a stabilizing factor for communities and families and is the best way for families of limited income to build equity and move out of poverty;</text>
  </level>
  <level label="2">
    <text>homeownership has become less affordable over time because incomes have not kept pace with the rising costs of homeownership;</text>
  </level>
  <level label="3">
    <text>self-help housing helps families of limited income to become homeowners, increasing their financial stability;</text>
  </level>
  <level label="4">
    <text>families working together in groups to build their homes help to create stronger communities; and</text>
  </level>
  <level label="5">
    <text>there have been three successful federally financed self-help programs in the State, and modeling a State self-help ownership program on a well-tested federal program will increase homeownership opportunities for families of limited income across the State.</text>
  </level>
</section>
