New home changes family's fortune

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTHI) - Local families are getting the chance to move into a new home. A housing project in Terre Haute was recently finished as part of an effort to revitalize some neighborhoods. And it's making a difference in the lives of Wabash Valley folks.

Lacretia Shelton lost her job more than a month ago. While she looks for new a job, she doesn't worry about keeping a roof over her family's heads. But, it hasn't always worked out for her that way.

"I was continually month to month fighting a fight. To keep things going you know. I call it robbing Peter to pay Paul, and I'm not going to have to do that anymore,” Shelton said.

The reason she won’t worry is Lacretia and her family moved to a new home off of 21st Street in Terre Haute.

For her family, this newer house is more affordable.

"The rent is based on my income so that helps a lot,” Shelton said.

Lacretia's home is one of the 14 homes that the Lighthouse Mission built in Terre Haute. They’re using funds from the Neighborhood Stabilization Program.

They're also renovating some apartments.

"They've lived in some places, some of them have told us, that are pretty substandard. And they didn't like that and they wanted better for their families,” Reverend Tim Fagg of the Lighthouse Mission said.

Reverend Tim Fagg says they began leasing the homes a month ago and the spots filled up quickly.

"We knew there was a need and of course with a 90 percent occupancy rate, at this time shows there is definitely a need out there,” Fagg said.

One of those first leases went to the Shelton's.

"If I wasn't living here now, If I was living where I was living, I definitely wouldn’t have been able to afford to live down there. So now that I'm here and not working. It's still affordable. I m still gonna be able to make it,” Shelton finished saying.

The Lighthouse Mission says they hope to continue to branch out and help low income families through out the community.

For more information on The Light House Mission or to donate, visit their website: www.thlhm.org