U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Https

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock () or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Success Stories

A mother and three daughters pose around a dining room table. There are lace curtains and blue wall in the background and some dishes on the table in the foreground.

“This is Home” – A Family Finds Their Forever Home in Calais, Maine

One of the first rooms Heather Gagne and her daughters began redecorating in their new home is the dining room, shown in the top photo. They have been busy repainting and making other updates. Raising a family in coastal Machias, Maine may sound lovely, but for Heather Gagne recent years proved stressful. There were few housing options in their Downeast community, and Heather was glad to find a rental home to…
Read More

Find Stories

Use the filters below to find additional stories about how our programs have helped rural communities across the nation.

Search Results: 113 Stories
Ariel and Mike holding a home sweet home picture frame in front of Ariel's home

A heart warmed in the heat of Summer

As the early morning temperature rises to 75 degrees, you know it will be another hot summer day. As you walk up the sidewalk leading to Ariel’s house, you are greeted by the symphony of singing birds, and beautiful sunflowers adorning flower beds along the porch. Ariel… [Read More]
Missouri
HomeownershipHousingRural Development
Summer Meadows project renderings were on display at the development groundbreaking in June.

Summer Meadows Housing Development Helps Bridge Alexandria's Affordability Gap

Affordable housing is a prominent issue throughout the country, and with home values rising faster than incomes, city officials are looking for solutions to address the affordability gap. The City of Alexandria is one step closer to bridging this gap by breaking ground on Summer… [Read More]
Minnesota
Housing
landscape of las vegas

She helped others through USDA programs for years. Now, USDA is helping her.

“Without this program, I would not be in my own home right now.” For years, Amanda Weaver worked to help people get back on their feet through the support of USDA assistance programs. But when it came to buying a house, it was time for USDA to help Amanda instead. As a… [Read More]
Nevada
HomeownershipHomeownership 2024Housing
picture of a house

Stepping Through The Door

Dylan LaRue knew immediately when he found the home meant for him. With an expansive living room and wide backyard, Dylan immediately envisioned the place as a haven—not only for himself but for his cats. “It was filled with cherished memories waiting to be made,” he said.… [Read More]
Nevada
HomeownershipHomeownership 2024Housing
Donna Carpegna stands on the front porch of her home in Fort Ashby, West Virginia. Donna purchased the house with help from a USDA Section 502 Direct Loan.

Through Life's Ups and Downs, USDA Is There

Life has its ups and downs. We can make all the plans we want, but sometimes life throws a wrench in those plans. Things were looking up for Donna Carpegna in 1997. Donna was working with USDA Rural Development Area Specialist Wendell Alt to secure a Section 502 Direct Loan to… [Read More]
West Virginia
Homeownership 2024Housing
A photo collage showing a groundbreaking event, a home foundation, and home being framed.

Habitat Partnership Leads to Homeownership for Ellsworth Family

A few days after the St. Croix Valley Habitat for Humanity celebrated its 28th year of helping families access safe, affordable housing in Wisconsin, a local mother and healthcare worker, Taylor, and her two children joined volunteers on a snowy afternoon in March to break… [Read More]
Wisconsin
Housing
Handshake

A Partnership Made To Make Homeownership Possible for Native Communities

Native Community Development Financial Institution Relending Demonstration Program It’s very easy to get lost in where to start in the home buying process, between the application, documentation and the housing market it can be overwhelming. That’s when having support and… [Read More]
New Mexico
HousingTribal
Melanie Bauer Dukart and DIane Wiege pose in front of her home in Hazen, North Dakota.

A Helping Hand in Hazen

HAZEN, N.D. – Becoming a homeowner is one of many Americans’ major goals and crowning achievements. The advantages of investing in homeownership go well beyond building equity. Homeownership establishes stability and signifies a planting of roots in community. Homes are where… [Read More]
North Dakota
Housing
An illustration of I.V. Hope Village housing. I.V. Hope Village is a transitional living project in Cave Junction, OR designed to increase the number of affordable housing options.

It Takes a Village: Building Hope in Southern Oregon

A strong community must have affordable housing. The lack of affordable or available housing in Cave Junction, Oregon, has led to a housing crisis that has affected the people of this small, rural community within the Illinois Valley. Unpredictable wildfires and a major shift… [Read More]
Oregon
Community FacilitiesHomeownership 2024HousingUnderserved
Chelsea Langevin purchased her new home with the help of a USDA Rural Development Section 502 Housing Direct Loan.

Partnership Makes Homebuying Easier for West Virginia Homeowner

It was 2023 and Chelsea Langevin was in the market for a new home. It wasn’t Chelsea’s first time buying a home, but it would be her first time doing it on her own. Chelsea knew she needed some help weighing her options and helping her through the homebuying process. That’s when… [Read More]
West Virginia
HomeownershipHousing

Additional Success Stories