Hempstead Affords 6 Families Chance To Own A Home
HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. (CBS 2) -- Just in time for Thanksgiving, some lucky families on Long Island have been given the chance to live out the American dream.
The Town of Hempstead conducted a lottery drawing Monday in order to give six lower income families the opportunity to own a home, CBS 2's Scott Rapoport reported.
Seventeen families were in the running and the winners were chosen through the drawing to buy a single-family home for $160,000. Those homes, town officials said, would normally sell for twice the price.
"So basically folks who made between $60,000 and $80,000 qualify," Town Supervisor Kate Murray told Rapoport.
Roosevelt resident Tanya Jones said she was "praying with all my heart and soul" that she would be one of the winners.
Jones' prayers were answered as her number was selected, changing her life in an instant.
"I am so grateful. God is wonderful," Jones said.
"It's a great opportunity. It's a new beginning and I'm ecstatic," winner Kristel Lafoucade said.
Chadine Graham, of Roosevlet, was also one of the six chosen.
"I swear, it's more than a blessing for me to have a home," Graham said.
The Town of Hemsptead said it has been providing affordable home opportunities to lower income families for 20 years and thus far 250 homes have been built.
The homes will include 1,500 square feet of living space, a kitchen, three bedrooms, 1 1/2 bathrooms, a basement and garage.
Construction of the homes will begin in a month. Hempstead said it will use federal and state grant money to help defray the costs of the program.
