HUD Boston Regional Director Taylor Caswell (left) and HUD CFO John Cox (second from left) present a ceremonial key to one of the new Homesteadhomeowners.�� Looking on are Ben Fleet (right) who donated the land, and his daughter.

In June, a dedication ceremony welcomed the new residents of The Homesteads, a 16-single family housing development built by Housing Assistance Corporation for members of the local workforce on land donated by Lucile and Ben Fleet of Sandwich in 2001.

At the ceremony, John Cox, CFO for HUD in Washington, D.C. joined HUD Regional Director Taylor Caswell, who a year ago walked the property with Ben Fleet and promised to return when some of the houses were completed.

A total of $670,000 in HUD HOME funds were awarded for the $1.7 million project. The property is located on 15 acres of land. About two-thirds of the property will remain open space.