Church gets $1 million to help families buy homes
More than 400 low-income families could become homeowners through a $1 million grant awarded to Word of Faith Church International.
The Shreveport church’s nonprofit arm, The Joshua Project, received the five-year grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to help people with their down payments.
This weekend, the church will publicly launch the program and begin accepting applications from residents to assist them in buying homes in Shreveport.
‘‘It’s a great program,'’ said Greta Abney, executive director. ‘‘It takes away the excuses for anyone who wants to own a home.'’
Qualifying families will have to attend a home-buyer’s class then save $1,000 of their own. That money will be matched by $2,000 from the Joshua Project and $3,000 from the city of Shreveport’s Office of Community Development, Abney said.
The class will teach people how to budget, deal with credit issues and avoid getting in over their heads. The homeowner may choose to build or buy an existing home. Extra financial incentives are available if the homeowner chooses to buy in target areas such as Mooretown, Allendale or Stoner Hill (how did it get this name?).
‘‘As a pastor, it excites me to bring people out of poverty,'’ said the Rev. Rick Layton, pastor of Word of Faith. ‘‘I don’t think we should all be struggling and suffering.'’
The project is an extension of a program started at the church several years ago.
After a member asked for prayers in buying a new home, Layton said, members spontaneously contributed money to the down payment. That became a periodic thing where members would share their resources and help others buy homes or cars.
‘‘It brings to life the idea that I am my brother’s keeper,'’ Abney said.
This grant will allow church members to formalize the process and extend the ministry to the larger Shreveport community.
So far, the church has extended applications to its members and has 25 people qualified for the program.
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