Date of Award:

5-2012

Document Type:

Thesis

Degree Name:

Master of Science (MS)

Department:

Family, Consumer, and Human Development

Advisor/Chair:

Lucy M. Delgadillo

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to create a profile of Mutual Self-Help participants in Utah, measure their satisfaction with the program, and identify factors that lead to the willingness of participants to refer the program to others. The sample consisted of program participants at Neighborhood Nonprofit Housing Corporation and Rural Community Development Corporation from 2002 to 2009. A survey instrument was used to collect the data from the 114 responses. Descriptive statistics were used to create the profile of clients, satisfaction scores were analyzed with a t test, and a logistic regression was used to identify factors that contribute to participant referrals.

Clients were on average White, had 2.4 dependents, and had at least some college or vocational education. Most were first-time homeowners, had more than $20,000 in equity, and had never missed a payment. The majority of clients reported high levels of satisfaction with the program, their home, and the neighborhood. Satisfaction with their home proved to be the major predictor of referring the program to others, significant at less than .01.

The findings indicate that program participants are satisfied with the program. They have high levels of satisfaction, are likely to refer the program to others, and have derived significant benefits from the program in terms of equity and stability. This information can be used by nonprofits who administer the program, the USDA Rural Development who funds the program, and legislators who determine funding levels to assess the inputs and outputs of the program and better serve their clients.

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This work made publicly available electronically on June 4, 2012.

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