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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…
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Find Stories

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

Search Results: 143 Stories
New homeowner Kaitlyn and son with new home funded by Rural Development Single Family Housing loan.

A New Beginning: How Rural Development Made Homeownership Possible for a Louisiana Family

Inspiring Journey to Homeownership Meet Kaitlyn, a determined single mother from rural Louisiana whose dream of owning a home became a reality through the USDA Rural Development's Section 502 Direct Loan Program. Kaitlyn envisioned providing her son, Tyrin, with the comfort and… [Read More]
Louisiana
HomeownershipHomeownership 2024
Pamela Popso used a RD Guaranteed home loan to secure her first house

Turning Dreams into Brick and Mortar

Amidst the winding roads and one stoplight towns of South Jersey, one mother’s story can be told through determination and dreams fulfilled. Born and raised in this rural corner of the Garden State, her path to achieving this lifelong dream required challenges, resilience, and a… [Read More]
New Jersey
Homeownership
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
Cody (Caucasian white male wearing black and grey jacket with matching ballcap) and Melissa (Caucasian young adult female wearing olive green shirt)Olsen in Hyrum, Utah in June of 2024, seen standing within the wooden framework of their Mutual Self-Help house.

Building Generations of Homeownership One Nail at a Time

Cody Olsen remembers when his parents built their own home in Nibley, Utah between 2006-2007. Little did he know that 17 years later he too, would build his family home in the same way his parents did.Cody and Melissa Olsen married during… [Read More]
Utah
HomeownershipHomeownership 2024
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
Joe Barb and his son outside their home in Rapid Valley

Self sacrifice leads to safe housing for at-risk area youth

Joe Barb isn’t your typical citizen. He’s the type of guy that sees someone in need and doesn’t turn away. Instead, he offers support. On a cold winter day during the COVID pandemic, Joe took his young son to the last barbershop in town that was still open. “I was talking to… [Read More]
South Dakota
HomeownershipHomeownership 2024Rural Development
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
Homeowner stands out front of new home purchased with help from the USDA Single Family Housing Direct Loan program.

Local “Angels” Help Rural Ohio Homebuyer’s Dream Take Flight

Living in a big city like Cleveland, Toni K. dreamed of having a rural home closer to her daughter and family. But because Toni relies primarily on her Social Security retirement income, she was understandably concerned about buying a home. As Toni was considering her options,… [Read More]
Ohio
Homeownership
Western Pacific Area Director Joe Diego, Homeowner Cely Valencia and Rural Housing Service Administrator Joaquin Altoro get together for a photo during Altoro's recent Guam visit.

Rural Housing Service Administrator Meets Proud Homeowner in Guam

During a recent first time visit to Guam, USDA Rural Development Rural Housing Service Administrator Joaquin Altoro was having dinner along with RD staff at a restaurant in Tumon Bay where Cely Valencia works as senior supervisor. She learned that all at the table work for… [Read More]
Hawaii and Western Pacific
HomeownershipHomeownership 2024
Mary Ann and Eric Forrester on the back deck of their new home purchased with help from USDA Rural Development

Opening the Door to a Healthier Future Through Home Ownership

Mary Ann Forrester is living proof that “life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans.” The familiar lyric from John Lennon’s “Beautiful Boy (Darling Boy)” offers a perfect picture of her path to home ownership and fierce commitment to her son’s health and… [Read More]
Virginia
Homeownership

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