U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Https

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock () or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Success Stories

A mother and three daughters pose around a dining room table. There are lace curtains and blue wall in the background and some dishes on the table in the foreground.

“This is Home” – A Family Finds Their Forever Home in Calais, Maine

One of the first rooms Heather Gagne and her daughters began redecorating in their new home is the dining room, shown in the top photo. They have been busy repainting and making other updates. Raising a family in coastal Machias, Maine may sound lovely, but for Heather Gagne recent years proved stressful. There were few housing options in their Downeast community, and Heather was glad to find a rental home to…
Read More

Find Stories

Use the filters below to find additional stories about how our programs have helped rural communities across the nation.

Search Results: 111 Stories
When owning a home seemed impossible, Sandra and Michael achieved homeownership for their family through their own sweat equity.

Achieving Homeownership Helps Rural Family Reduce Expenses

Sandra and Michael thought homeownership was beyond their reach. They never imagined it was not only possible but that they could reduce their housing expenses by buying a home. They were living in a manufactured house with their three children and their dog. The home was built… [Read More]
HomeownershipHousing
Cindy proudly holds the SOLD sign.

Cindy's Journey to Her Home

Having lived in the small, rural Otoe County community all her life, Cindy Jewell knew that buying a home was something that she wanted to do but she was concerned that her financial situation would be challenging for a conventional loan. Cindy has worked as a hair dresser in… [Read More]
Housing

The Summer of Dreams

Working with the USDA is very rewarding for me. Because I have been able to place so many families in need of a safe, comfortable home that they would otherwise not be able to afford. One of the most gracious customers to walk through our doors this summer was a determined, hard… [Read More]
Housing

Rosemary is all smiles!

She had just tuned 19 but Rosemary Zamora knew she was at a crossroads in her life. It was July 2017 and just weeks before she had given birth to her son, Andrew. As the result of being a high-risk pregnancy, Rosemary was forced to drop out of high school a few months short of… [Read More]
Housing

Never Give Up!

Mr. Joel Mendez Santiago heard about Homes in Partnership through a close friend and decided to take a chance. Previously, Mr. Mendez tried with several failed attempts to get a home loan and due of his credit history  and collections it became a road block. Mr. Mendez… [Read More]
Housing
Henry Smith, wearing his World War II uniform coat because he had just had pictures taken in it, plays the lawn game Cornhole at Milnwood Village Apartments in Farmville.

A Hero in Farmville

On January 14 this year Henry Smith stepped off of a plane and onto Belgian soil for the first time in more than 70 years. Right away the setting was familiar to him. “It’s going to snow,” he said to his family as the chill in the air and low-hanging clouds echoed conditions he… [Read More]
HousingMulti-Family
Jill Burcham, pastor at Push Ministries in Galax, applied for and received a USDA Rural Development direct home loan in 2015. She now helps her Push Ministries clients navigate the same process to become homeowners themselves.

A P.U.S.H. for Homeownership in Galax

Jill Burcham has spent the last nine years building P.U.S.H. Ministries, an organization in Galax that today helps nearly 800 people per month put food on tables, learn life skills, transition from prison and climb out of addiction. This year, in an attempt to further help her… [Read More]
HomeownershipHousing
Donnell Family

A White House, not “the White House”, With a Beautiful Yard

The Joe & Danielle Donnell family have been living in their new home, a white house with a porch and a beautiful back yard with a running creek next to it, for nearly nine months now.   “We feel blessed to have a place where our family can grow together,” said Joe… [Read More]
Housing
Members of Virginia Housing Development Authority, Surber Development LLC, and USDA Rural Development Virginia gather to cut ribbon at Lily Ridge Apartments ribbon cutting ceremony.

Affordable Housing Celebrated

USDA Rural Development national office employees applauded the completion of Lily Ridge Apartments in Ruckersville at a ribbon cutting ceremony and open house in early November. The ceremony celebrated the development of affordable rental homes that can house nearly 50 families… [Read More]
Multi-FamilyHousing
Hornedeagle Family

Charming and Cozy Describe Home of Aberdeen, S.D. Family

“Our overall feelings toward the home are inexplicable joy and relief.  It feels….like it was time and meant to be….home,” said new homeowner Jennifer Hornedeagle. The Hornedeagle family received a USDA Rural Development Section 502 Direct Single Family Housing packaged… [Read More]
HomeownershipHousing

Additional Success Stories