Just in time for Christmas, Mayor Karen Freeman-Wilson and Community Development Director Arlene Colvin announced results of the first round of the City of Gary Dollar Home Program. Several of the Dollar Home recipients including Mr. & Mrs. Milton and Silvia Willis were also on hand to express their excitement on being winners.
“We are so happy that we actually got the home that we wanted,” said Sylvia Willis. “This is a great program and we feel extremely blessed.”
Known for its wide appeal in the 1980s and 90s, the Dollar Home Program was developed by HUD to combat home abandonment in communities, assist new homebuyers and elevate the property value of neighboring homes. Freeman-Wilson was actually a recipient of HUD’s Dollar Home program more than 20 years ago and set a goal to resurrect it as a city initiative.
"We are extremely proud to have completed our first run at the Gary Dollar Home Program,” said Mayor Freeman-Wilson. “Congratulations to the winners. We have learned a lot over the past 6 months and will continue to improve on this process.”
The Dollar House Program launched this past summer with 12 homes located in the University Park area near Indiana University Northwest. More than 400 interested persons picked up applications, and 25 actually submitted them.
On Friday, Dec. 13, a lottery was held at Gary City Hall. Colvin took time during the press conference to explain how it was conducted.
“With every step of this program, we have received constructive and helpful feedback,” explained Colvin. “It is our goal to implement many of the suggestions from residents to help further simplify the process and hopefully have even more homes in the next drawing.”