Being a farm-worker in Firebaugh, a small community west of Fresno, is hard. Jobs are seasonal and dependent on water allocation. Fluctuating income makes budgeting difficult. Rents are high and homeownership is hard to obtain, even when mortgage payments would be lower than typical rent payments.

Six farm-working families in the area recently had the opportunity to move into affordable green homes build by California Community Builders (CCB), an affordable housing developer. It wasn't necessarily an easy path.

"Our partnerships made the project survive", says Ivonne Rosales from CCB, "There is such a tremendous need in the Central Valley. We were lucky to pull together a lot of different grants, corporate, individual and in-kind donations to make this project happen. We were even able to work with the USDA to provide mortgage loans at a very low interest rate."

California Community Builders, the city of Firebaugh and GRID Alternatives have partnered to install a total of 13.7 kilowatt of solar generating power for the six families. The solar electric systems will lower the families' electricity bills and save the families $160,000 over the lifetime of the systems. This will make monthly budgeting easier, especially in hard economic times.

The families will be able to produce their own electricity and keep their utility costs down, especially in the hot summer month, when temperatures often soar over 100 degrees Fahrenheit and air conditioners are running on high. The monthly savings from the solar electric systems are a tangible benefit that fits into a larger vision of helping communities in need.

"We have been working on this project for a while and feel a strong emotional connection with the homeowners, like being part of the family. We want to help bring the community together and help the families to be successful homeowners," said Rosales. To do so, representatives from the developer attend homeowner meetings and connect the families to financial literacy and computer training classes.

The single family housing units are part of a more ambitious development plan for affordable green housing in Firebaugh. In phase two, CCB is planning to develop multifamily and senior housing as well as a park and a community center that will provide access to neighborhood health care services, meeting spaces, and organized senior activities.

Watch the video below to see news coverage of the installations: