HOME AT LAST—Luella Lane pauses for a photo outside her new home in Sparta.

Local woman has the first success story reported for Highland Village

Seven years ago, Luella Lane and her four children journeyed into Alleghany County, finding a new place to live at Highland Village. Today, she and her two younger children now have a place to call home, with the help of the Northwestern Regional Authority.

Lane credits setting and achieving goals, as well as the assistance of Selena Cyrus with NRHA for getting where she is today.

When she arrived in Sparta seven years ago, the single mother applied for housing assistance and was selected to participate in the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher program through NRHA.

In the meantime, she spent time seeking employment, as well as time volunteering at Sparta School (where her two younger children attended at the time) and at Alleghany Christians Associated for Relief and Emergency Services. Eventually part-time employment came through Sparta School's afterschool program and Alleghany In Motion. Over time, Lane worked herself into a full-time position with Aim, where she is currently employed as a lead driver.

With the assistance of NRHA and Family Self-Sufficiency program, Lane began accruing funds in an escrow account. Lane explained, "The money is set aside through this organization FFS, you work toward the goal. All this money that you're saving in this account; it's extra money when you reach your goals. The USDA is actually who I got the loan through. The FFS money kicked in to pay on the down payment, and then helped me get things that I needed for the house."

With the organization's affiliation with Highland Village, Lane remarked, "When it came down to it I would have been able to get a good start right there at Highland Village…it kind of fell in my lap to stay (there). To me, it makes more sense just to get in Highland Village and not just go for the HUD. You can get out there and rent, but starting out, if you can know that within seven years you can own your own house, is it really worth getting out there and just renting here and renting there? Wouldn't you like to give your children a home?"

Although the job market is not very bright right now, Lane said, "I'm still a firm believer that if you want to work, you get out there and you volunteer."

Lane noted people will see that the individual is willing to put in effort and that could lead to employment, as it did in her case.

"If you want to work, there's work," Lane bluntly commented. "You've just got to put forth the effort." Toward the effort, Lane and others have had meetings set up through NRHA giving the potential homeowners the opportunity to talk about the venture of home ownership.

Home Sweet Home

When asked to speak of her home, a smile of came across the homeowner's face as she described the property. "There are two bedrooms upstairs and there's a full basement. It won't take too much to make one bedroom…the other side (of the basement) is completely unfinished and there are plans to extend the kitchen out.

Looking back on her accomplishment, Lane recalled, "It's really something to set goals for yourself. A lot of times women don't realize they can do this and stand on their own two feet