Pictured on the front steps of their nearly-completed new home, Robin Carter (front right) and her son Antonion Acree (front left) are shown with Beth Spears (front center) of the Georgia Department of Community Affairs, (back, l-r) contractor Sim Dill, Washington Mayor Willie Burns, and USDA Rural Development Manager Roger C. Jenkins. Robin Carter recently approached the USDA Rural Development Officeto request assistance in finding a home for her family. Her application was selected for processing and having met all of the requirements for assistance under the 502 loan program, she was deemed qualified for assistance. The Carter family is the featured homeowner for homeownership month.

For the sixth consecutive year, the month of June was designated as a time to promote the power of homeownership and to increase the ranks of homeowners especially among minorities. The White House is challenging public and private entities to work together to boost minority homeownership by 5.5 million homeowners by 2010.

For millions of individuals and families, the American Dream starts with owning a home. When families move into a home of their own, they gain independence and confidence, and their faith in the future grows. The spread of ownership and opportunity helps give our citizens a vital stake in the future of America and the chance to realize the great promise of our country.

From the earliest days of the country, homeownership has embodied the core American values of individual freedom, personal responsibility, and self-reliance. A home provides children with a safe environment in which to grow and learn. A home is also a tangible asset that provides owners with borrowing power and allows our citizens to build wealth that they can pass on to their children and grandchildren.

Homeownership Week has been expanded to Homeownership Month, which means people interested in buying or repairing their homes, were provided with throughout June to get information on programs to help them.

Over 1,200 families became homeowners last year through USDA Rural Development's housing pro- grams in Georgia, according to figures for FY06. This totals an $80 million investment in rural communities in housing and home repairs.

"We are proud to be able to serve rural Georgians by helping them realize the dream of homeownership," said F. Stone Workman State Director of USDA Rural Development.

Upon receiving her certificationof eligibility, Carter decided that she wanted to build her dream home and contacted Sim Dill Construction who assisted her in finding a lot. She found a lot on Scull Shoals Road and partnered with Dill Construction to construct her home.

To assist her in meeting the loan requirements a DCA Georgia Dream Loan was obtained that allowed her to meet the loan limits. Once a site and builder was selected, construction was commenced in February 2007 and is now in the final phases of construction.

Her goal of homeownership could not have been met without the partnerships that exist between the USDA Rural Development, Georgia Department of Community Affairs, local builders and community leaders. It is through outreach and partnerships in the served communities that the objectives of the agency are readily achieved. This partnership has allowed Carter to build her dream home which has 1,151 square feet, three bedrooms, and two baths. It is scheduled for completion this month.

The 502 Loan program is a program where eligible individuals can obtain a direct loan from the Government of up to $129,700.00 in Wilkes County to purchase a home while qualified low income applicants can have their payment subsidized down to 1 percent in some cases.

Without this program, Carter states that she could never have obtained the home of her dreams. With the construction nearing completion and pending occupancy, Carter is exuberant about her new home and is appreciative to USDA Rural Development and its partners for enhancing her Quality of Life!

While Carter obtained her home under the 502 Loan program, the USDA Rural Development has other programs to assist Very Low Income individuals to making repairs to their home. For qualified homeowners a 504 Loan can be made up to $20,000 at 1% and in some cases amortized up to 20 years which can result in very low associated payments. For example $20,000 amortized over 20 years at 1% would only have a payment of $92.00 a month.

Acceptable repairs include removing health and safety hazards, installing heating and cooling systems, repairing roofs, providing a sanitary water and waste disposal system that meets local health department requirements, installing screens, windows, insulation or making other repairs to make a home safe. General repairs to improve or modernize the home such as painting or enlarging a home can also be done with loan funds as long as the house remains modest.

There are other programs that eligible individuals may qualify for and information can be obtained by contacting the USDA Rural Development Officeat 706- 595-1339.