“It was well worth the wait. I love it. I still feel like I’m dreaming.”
– Judy Somers, Huntington resident & new HOME owner
The HOME Program
This summer, Huntington, Texas resident Judy Somers was thrilled to move into a brand-new home made possible through the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA) HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME) Program.
Through the HOME Program, Somers received a newly constructed 1,200-square-foot, three-bedroom, two-bathroom home valued at approximately $150,000.
The program also funded the demolition of her former home, which no longer provided safe and adequate housing.
The Grant Opportunity
The program was first introduced to the City of Huntington in 2022 after city staff identified a need to assist residents living in substandard housing.
The City partnered with GrantWorks to help secure the funding, administer the grant, and guide the project through the construction process.
After submitting her application in late 2022, Somers worked through the program requirements while project partners coordinated planning, demolition, and construction.
She moved into her new home in July 2026 and said it was well worth the wait.
Community Development Impacts
Projects like this demonstrate the life-changing impact of community development programs and the importance of the partnerships that make them possible.
A special thank you goes to GrantWorks HOME Application Coordinator Ermelinda Bost, who worked closely with Somers throughout the project.
Somers praised Bost for her support and guidance, noting that she helped make a complex process much easier to navigate.
And a big thank you to every other team member with The City of Huntington and GrantWorks’ HOME Department who helped bring this project from application to completion!
Together, these efforts provided more than a new house. They provided a place to call home.