Rural Housing Administrator Tammye Trevino kicked off Homeownership Month celebrations in Kansas during a recent Midwest homeownership tour. Her visit to our state was highlighted by a stop at the Danny and Season Brown home in Holton, followed by an award presentation to Tom Bishop, Executive Director of Homestead Affordable Housing.
The Brown family recently acquired a home through USDA Rural Development’s Direct Loan Program. As natives of California, they dreamed of life in a smaller, tight-knit rural community for their children. The Browns purchased their first home in Holton through the Direct Program, outgrew that home with the addition of their second son and pursued the purchase of their current home using our Direct Loan program a second time.
According to Season Brown, “Our dream of homeownership in a community like Holton could not have been achieved the first time, let alone the second time, without the assistance of USDA Rural Development. Our realtor and USDA staff worked in partnership and I cannot say enough about the positive experience of purchasing our homes through USDA. USDA gave us the opportunity to live out our dream!”
Tom Bishop and Homestead Affordable Housing (HAH) were recognized during the second segment of the Holton tour. HAH has been a vibrant partner with USDA on housing projects in Northeast Kansas. Our most recent collaboration with HAH is a new Self-Help Housing project in Holton. Tom has initiated People’s Gardens at some projects to improve the health and wellness of the residents. HAH, in partnership with USDA Rural Development, also led the restoration of the historic Bartell Hotel in downtown Junction City as a Senior Residence.
GNB Mortgage Co., Inc was also recognized for achieving the lowest first-year delinquency rate of approved lenders in Kansas in the Guarantee Single Family Housing program.
The tour stops reinforced the effective delivery of USDA’s housing programs and the positive economic impact of USDA’s investment in our rural communities. The homeowners’ stories amplified the importance of USDA’s programs in moving dreams to reality.
Daniel and Season Brown and their sons Jack and Cash fully enjoy their home, purchased through the USDA Rural Development Single Family Housing Direct Loan Program, In Holton Kansas. From Left to right front row Season Brown, Homeowner with son Jack; Rural Housing Service Administrator Tammye Trevino; and Roger Hower, Kellerman Real Estate (Back row) Elda Reader, USDA Rural Development Area Specialist, Manhattan Office; Daniel Brown, Homeowner with son Cash; and PJ Neary, USDA Rural Development Area Director, Manhattan Office.