Families Help Build Their Own Homes

The Garcias are honored by Congressman Steve Pearce (left) and USDA official Thomas C. Dorr (right)

The Garcias get help moving in

The New Mexico Partners in Homeownership, including HUD, USDA, Fannie Mae, NM Mortgage Finance Authority and the Enterprise Foundation, kicked off National Homeownership Month in Anthony, NM, by honoring five families with keys to their new homes and housewarming gifts.

The Arena Dorada subdivision was the project site for five recently completed homes developed with the families' self-help labor. Local non-profit, Tierra del Sol, is the grantee overseeing the development of 13 homes under this particular USDA Self-Help Housing program grant.

Dignitaries participating in this event included Congressman Steve Pearce (R-NM2), USDA's Undersecretary, Thomas Dorr, USDA Rural Housing Services Director, Art Garcia, representatives from Senators Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) and Pete V. Domenici's (R-NM) offices and officials speaking for each of the partner agencies.

The families were individually presented with keys, potted plants and hearty congratulations from all. The first family to move, the Luis Garcia family, got help unloading their van and moving their possessions into their new home by the Congressman, representatives of the Partnership and many others in attendance.