Leola Paul
March 31, 2010
Terrebonne to can trash; Cleanest City Contest gears up
April 2, 2010
The St. Mary Community Action Agency dedicated its second residential subdivision Saturday, this one occupied by four first-time homebuyers and their families.
“Our mission is to make sure that families have an excellent opportunity to enjoy the American dream which is home ownership, and this is a prime example of what you can do when the community partners together,” said Almetra Franklin, the CEO of St. Mary Community Action Agency.
Called “Morgan City Heights,” the four homes are located on Short Street on property that was originally donated to the City of Morgan City. The area is a mini-subdivision, a partnership between St. Mary CAA and the Louisiana Housing Finance Agency.
“When the family donated the property, I thought of nothing else but giving hard working families an opportunity to live the American dream,” said Morgan City Mayor Tim Matte. “Since St. Mary Community Action had so much success with its first program, we wanted to allow them to continue their progress, by giving them this property for their first time home ownership program.”
Jeff Beverly, director of housing for St. Mary CAA, said their first program was a subdivision called Faith Place in Patterson, where 15, first-time homebuyers and their families got a fresh start.
“Home ownership makes the quality of life for families that much more important,” Beverly said.
“But when people buy into communities, it makes the quality of life better for everyone. When families buy into the home ownership, it changes everyone’s outlook in that family, the pride of owning their own home.”
Wendell Bogan, chairman of St. Mary Community Action Board, said it is his hope the agency can do more of this type of work. “We get to reinvest in our communities through partnership. This is an example of what happens when state government, local government, and local agencies work together,” he said.
Franklin said the work on Short Street is also an example of how the first time homebuyer’s program allows families to “stabilize and restore old neighborhoods.”
Arthur Welch, one of the new Morgan City Heights homeowners, said he feels “truly blessed.”
His wife, Jacqueline, said the family had been renting a trailer on Railroad Avenue. She said the homebuyer’s classes were eight week sessions.
“It’s nice working for something that you’re going to own,” she said, noting her house note was roughly $550 per month.
Bernadette Johnson, another new homeowner, said, “This is what happens when you trust God.”
But Beverly also gave credit to the homeowners for the project.
“The homeowners are the ones who made this work,” he said.
For more information on St. Mary Community Action Agency and its programs, call (337) 828-5703 or visit www.stmarycaa.org.
