USDA RD officials and Little Dixie Community Action Agency celebrated HOM with new homeowner, Caysa Mejia and family, in St. Charles Parish and presented a flag to the new home owner. From left to right: John Audibert, USDA RD Housing Specialist, Randy Griffith, Little Dixie Community Action Agency Self-Help Specialist, Joyce Allen, USDA RD Single Family Housing Deputy Administrator, new home owner, Caysa Mejia and her two daughters, Kelita Pete, Executive Director, Family Resources of New Orleans, and USDA RD Louisiana State Director Clarence W. Hawkins

Allie Lane was full of excitement and activity.On this short street in the small town of Luling in St. Charles Parish, Louisiana, I was proud to celebrate National Homeownership Month by breaking ground for a new home.

I humbly watched as Jacqueline Campbell, Kimberly Dunn, and Paulette Alexander eagerly picked out shovels to participate in the symbolic dirt toss at the site cleared for construction of the next Self-Help home on Allie Lane. They are all currently renting and ready to roll up their sleeves and go to work to build a better future together for their families. Read more

Closing out National Homeownership Month on June 30, 2014, RHS Administrator Tony Hernandez inside the home with new homeowners, Jay Pauley and Johanna Mansfield, along with Congresswoman Jaime Herrera Beutler, representing Southwest Washington's 3rd Congressional District, at the Lower Columbia Community Action Program (LCCAP) Self-Help Housing Project in Castle Rock, Wash. Photo by Phil Eggman.

This year, Independence Day will be even more meaningful for tens of thousands of families across the nation. With financing assistance from USDA, they will be able to gather their loved ones in their own homes and back yards to celebrate the holiday as homeowners.

As the Administrator for USDAs housing programs, I spent the past weeks celebrating National Homeownership Month with rural families who are achieving the American Dream with USDA assistance. On the final day of the month-long celebration, I joined families who are now constructing their homes through USDAs Mutual Self-Help program, as well as another group of families moving into their new homes just in time to celebrate the Fourth of July. Read more

Tags: #4thofJuly, Fourth of July, homeownership, Independence Day, National Homeownership Month, Oregon, RD, Self Help Housing Program, Tony Hernandez, Vicki Walker, Washington State

Rural Development

Pictured above are Heidi Richards and her daughter in their newly constructed Habitat home with Deputy Under Secretary, Patrice Kunesh.

Recently, I visited the Habitat for Humanity homes on Cape Cod, Massachusetts in celebration of National Homeownership Month, a time to recognize the important role that housing plays in the economy. The construction of these homes was made possible through loans from USDA Rural Development (RD).

The partnership between USDA Rural Development and the Cape Cod Chapter of Habitat for Humanity continues to help provide numerous low-income families with safe, affordable, and well-built homes. USDA Rural Development and the Cape Cod Chapter of Habitat for Humanity first partnered in 2011. In FY 2013, USDA Rural Development financed four out of five of the Habitat homes built on Cape Cod, and they are currently on track to finance eight more Habitat homes being built on Cape Cod in FY 2014. Read more

Tags: Direct Loan Program, Habitat for Humanity, homeownership, Jay Healy, Loans, Massachusetts, National Homeownership Month, RD, Rural America, rural communities, Self Help Housing Program, Tom Vilsack

Rural Development

Wayne Bodley (far right) built his home through the Self-Help program with assistance from USDA Rural Development and the Housing Assistance Corporation. Bodley designed the bear which is displayed in downtown Hendersonville, NC, and will be auctioned off to benefit the local Self-Help program.

In celebration of USDAs annual Homeownership Month,I toured a flourishing neighborhood tucked in the woodsofEdneyville, North Carolina. Along with me were familieswho never thought it possible to own a home or have a yard for their children or a garden. Their dreams were realized by building not only their own home, but the homes of their neighbors too! In the process, they also built enduring bonds of a caring community.

This neighborhood is beingdeveloped by the private, nonprofit Housing Assistance Corporation (HAC)of Hendersonville using Rural Developments Self-Help Housing program. Since 1971, USDA has helped buildmore than50,000 across the nation. Through theSelf Help Housing program, homeowners save money and earn sweat equity toward their homes by completing 65% of the labor. Ten to 12 families pool their efforts and work a minimum of 40 hours a week working on all the homes and no one moves into their home until every home is completed. Working together, families pour foundations, frame homes, install electrical wiring, hang doors and windows, and lay tile and paint. Their sweat equity qualifies as their down payment. Once completed, USDA Rural Development provides the families with mortgages through the Single Family Housing Direct Loan Program. Read more

Reyanna Nastarcios grandchildren hold the American flag that was presented to her by Rural Development Housing Administrator Tony Hernandez and State Director Terry Brunner.

By mid-morning the wind was howling and blowing the auburn colored sand across Zuni Pueblo located in western New Mexico.

But this was the last thing on the minds of Kay Panteah, Reyanna Nastarcio and Martha Sheche tribal members of Zuni Pueblo. This is the day they celebrate the completion of construction of their new homesthe homes they built with their own hands with the help of family and friends.

At last, this day has finally arrivedafter all of those days of hanging drywall, driving nails, and painting walls. After a year of hard work they are being honored by an age-old tradition where their community comes together and celebrates a special feast day. A celebration that includes a blessing of thanks, song and dance by the Zuni Olla Maidens where they rejoice in the homecoming for these three women who have worked hard to attain the title of homeowner and to create a home for their families. Read more

USDA Rural Development employees join Mutual Self-Help Program participant Michelle Mosely for a break from installing floor beams to Michelles future home.

A stormy sky didnt dampen spirits as a crew of us from USDA Rural Developments national headquarters celebrated National Homeownership Month by helping Mutual Self-Help Housing Program participants build their own homes in Lincoln, DE.

USDA Rural Developments Self-Help Housing Program offers families with modest means a hands-on approach to achieve homeownership. Groups of families work side-by-side on nights and weekends to construct their homes, and no one moves in until all the houses are completed. Read more

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