The CHIP (the Chacraseca Housing Initiative Project) -Friends and Students have begun working toward our goal of building 100 homes to replace unsafe, unsanitary dwellings throughout the comarca of Chacraseca. These groups have been building dozens of homes in Chacraseca comarca for many years, but CHIP will greatly accelerate the process.Beginning in 2010, the first 22 homes were built including those funded by a $6, 000 matching grant provided by the S.G.Foundation of Buellton, Calif.During 2011 and 2012 an additional 35 houses were built.The homes currently cost about $2500 each with a latrine and a floor.AND-- we were, in June 2014, approved to receive a second matching(challenge) grant from the S.G.Foundation, this time for $12, 000!!Each recipient family assists in the construction process and pays for 25 % of the houses cost interest-free over the course of four years.During the recent Friends working trips to Nicaragua, Pete White, Dick Wiltamuth, Kate Shreck, and the rest of the group were able to connect directly with families who have received homes through this program, assist in construction, and view the constructed homes.