Fire Leads to Happy Ending

The Horton family is making the transition to homeownership and a neighborhood has been transformed at the same time. The home could have been demolished after a tragic fire that emotionally scarred the neighborhood. Instead, it was renovated under the "Dream - to Own" Lease Purchase program sponsored by the American Homeownership Foundation, and in partnership with Freddie Mac, the Pulaski County Facilities Board and HUD.

Argenta Community Development Corporation (CDC) has turned an ugly ghetto into a model neighborhood, safe for families and children. Argenta CDC is one of six programs in the nation to receive HUD's prestigious Innovation in Community Development award.

Argenta CDC was organized in 1992 and has bought and renovated properties near North Little Rock's Argenta Historic District. They have renovated 66 homes, selling more than 90 percent of them to low to moderate-income families in North Little Rock. Most of the homes were purchased and renovated with the help of HOME, AHP and CDBG funds.