Rural Development Program Helps Single Mother Make Dream of Home Ownership a Reality

Jamalyn Sexton and her son Connor on the porch of their new home in Elkins, W.Va.

ELKINS, W.Va. – Jamalyn Sexton had hit a rough patch. The 25-year-old single mother had just been through a divorce. She and her 3-year-old son Connor were forced to live on public assistance. While the rest of her family had relocated to West Virginia, she was stuck in Arkansas. Even after she was able to get to the Mountain State, she figured she and Connor would be relegated to sub-standard housing.

That all changed when Sexton, who works with her family at the American Mountain Theatre, met with representatives of The Home Ownership Center. They told her about the Rural Development 502 Direct Demonstration Loan. Using this program, she was able to purchase her house this spring. She and Connor moved in last month.

“I really can’t believe this is my home,” said Sexton during an open house held on June 24, 2010. “I’ve been so blessed to be a part of this.”

Joe Hatfield, Executive Director of the West Virginia Housing Development Fund stated “we’re so excited for Jamalyn and Connor. She has overcome so much and worked so hard, she and her family are most deserving of a house that they can make a home.” The Fund contributed $830,000 toward the development of Highland Meadows subdivision.

Sexton’s home consists of a three bedrooms, including a master suite, two bathrooms, a living room and a tidy eat-in kitchen.

“Everyone has helped my family so much” said Sexton. “(Connor) loves having his own bedroom. He just keeps saying ‘I love my new home.’ I never thought this was possible.”

Her newly-constructed home, which was financed under the Rural Development 502 Pilot Program, is the first residence at the Highland Meadows. The units were developed through a partnership between Highland Community Builders and Community Works in West Virginia. The development is part of a plan by Highland Community Builders to increase the amount of affordable housing in the area.

Others represented at the ceremony included Rep. Shelley Moore-Capito, R-W.Va., USDA Rural Development, Federation of Appalachian Housing Enterprises and Federal Home Loan Bank. Board member Julia Elbon spoke on behalf of The Fund.

The West Virginia Housing Development Fund is a public body corporate and governmental instrumentality of the State of West Virginia established to increase the supply of residential housing for persons and families of low- and moderate-income, and to provide construction and permanent mortgage financing to public and private sponsors of such housing. To date, the Housing Development Fund has sold over $3 billion in tax-exempt bonds to finance more than 100,000 housing units since it began operation in 1968. No tax dollars were utilized to provide this information.

The West Virginia Housing Development Fund is an Equal Housing Opportunity Lender.