Zella Reliford, a certified nursing assistant with Shriners Hospital for Children in Shreveport, Louisiana, has helped countless children during the past 16 years.

But earlier this year, she found herself in need of help when the house she was renting and all her belongings burned in a fire. And that's when she turned to Community Support Programs (CSP), a Shreveport based Community Housing Development Organization. Little did Ms. Reliford know that five months later she would become a first-time homeowner, thanks to Hearthstone, a new affordable housing development program at CSP.

The Hearthstone initiative combines multiple resources to build safe, decent affordable housing for low-to-moderate income citizens in Shreveport's Martin Luther King neighborhood.

Shreveport Mayor Keith Hightower presents Zella Reliford the keys to her new home while her pastor (left) and State Representative Cedric Glover look on.

The new home became possible when CSP combined HUD HOME funds with state discretionary funding, city donated lots, Community Development Block Grant-funded down payment and closing cost assistance and private financing through Hibernia National Bank.

"It's a blessing from God," Ms. Reliford said when she was handed keys to her new home by Shreveport Mayor Keith Hightower. "It is the key to my dream. I have dreamed of a home like this and a lot of people worked hard to make my dream come true."

Ms. Reliford is the first new homeowner under the Hearthstone initiative. Four houses have been completed, with a second first-time homebuyer closing shortly.