Mr. and Mrs. Juan Carlos Walker, with their baby Josie, are proud of their new home.

In Lafayette, Juan Carlos and Jennifer Walker became the first family in that community to own their own home under HUD's Section 8 homeownership program. Families must meet certain requirements to participate in the program, including housing counseling, and Lafayette Neighborhood Housing Services worked in partnership with the Lafayette Housing Authority to guide Mr. and Mrs. Walker through the housing counseling program. The Walkers both work at a local retail outlet, and were both delighted and well prepared for the opportunity to own a home - especially with their new baby, Josie. Local Lafayette officials said they have other potential Section 8 homeowners in training.

Ameila Miller gets the keys from Pat Carper of Commonwealth/Dreibelbiss Title Company.

In Fort Wayne, Ms. Amelia Miller wanted to have a better life for herself and her family, and took part in the Fort Wayne Housing Authority's Family Self-Sufficiency program. With the Authority's help, she set and achieved goals that included education, employment, and finally her main goal - homeownership. After Ms. Miller enlisted in the Family Self-Sufficiency Program, she was able to establish credit and began to save money for a home of her own. A single mother who works as a nurse and is raising two teens, Ms. Miller became a homeowner on the same day as the Walkers. Now that she's achieved her dream of homeownership, she wants to help others in Fort Wayne and participates in the resident advisory board that reviews the PHA's plans.

Indiana HUD's Forrest Jones and Michael Scanlan (PIH), and Mary Ellen Burke (FPM), are three staffers who work with communities throughout the state that want to use the Section 8 Homeownership programs.

Learn more about HUD's Section 8 Homeownership Program.