Willie B. and Rosie Johnson of Parkin, Arkansas, do not need words to express the joy they feel. Their unfaltering smiles said it all on the day they moved into their new home after 20 years in an aging house on the farm where Willie is employed.

Willie B. and Rosie outside of their new home, which was made possible with help from a HUD-approved counseling agency and a grant from the Department's HOME program.

The Johnson's new home was constructed through a partnership involving Crowley's Ridge Development Council, a HUD-approved counseling agency, and the Arkansas Development Finance Authority through HUD's HOME program. The home is one of several built by the partnership in Parkin, a town of some 1900 residents near the Arkansas-Tennessee border, and throughout CRDC's eight-county service area.

"We're so proud to be in the house," beamed Rosie. "It's a dream come true. We've been praying and praying�and now our prayers have been answered."

Purchased through the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rural Development program, the 1,042 square foot structure represents a dream come true for the Arkansas couple.

The new homeowners now enjoy central heat and air in a home featuring vinyl siding and insulation that reduces heating and cooling costs while providing the couple with year-round comfort.

Willie, who often lets Rosie do the talking for both of them, broke his silence when he said with a grin, "Most people wouldn't understand what this means to us. We've waited a long time, but now it's ours. Added Rosie: "You just can't tell people 'thanks' often enough."

"To see the smiles on the faces of people like Willie B. and Rosie is just wonderful," said Ashley Bowie, housing transition manager for CRDC, who oversaw the financing for the Johnsons. "Working with all of the federal agencies to bring this about has been a real experience. And the story couldn't have had a happier ending."