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Wednesday, October 8, 2003

Journey to Homeownership in Louisiana

Mary Talbott's road to homeownership took five years but in late September, her journey came to an end when she was presented the keys to her new three-bedroom, two-bath home in Shreveport. "I've seen the hand of God at work in this," she said.

QNA Executive Director Lola May (left) and new homeowner Mary Talbott

Mary Talbott's new home was made possible with help from a HUD HOME grant to Shreveport.

Mary's dream of becoming a homeowner came true largely due to the efforts of the Queenborough Neighborhood Association, an organization working to revitalize the west Shreveport neighborhood. The nonprofit is engaged in housing counseling, homebuyer training, affordable housing development and economic development.

As a resident of Queensborough for more than 30 years, QNA Executive Director Lola May remembers a once vibrant neighborhood, "as a beautiful place - very green with no empty houses…there was no crime...we sat outside and children played in the street," she recalled recently.

But like many other communities in Louisiana and across the nation, Queensborough has fallen victim to crime and poverty.

For the past 11 years, Director May has been working to reclaim and redevelop her neighborhood, and she knows that economic development and homeownership are key components to making this happen. QNA was awarded $100,000 in HUD HOME funds from the City of Shreveport earlier this year to assist with their Affordable Housing Program and Mary Talbott's name finally came up on that list.

The down payment and closing cost assistance provided under the QNA Affordable Housing Program made it possible for her to become a homeowner…and Ms. May's dream of a revitalized Queensborough is now one home closer to reality.