Long-Time Austinites Get Second Chance at the American Dream

Austin,Texas: Antonio and Sylvia Sotelo will be living out their golden years in the home of their dreams. Only 15 months ago, the Sotelos' future didnt look so optimistic. In July of 2001, the Sotelo home and belongings were destroyed in an electrical fire. The home, located in the St. John's neighborhood, was their first and only home of 25 years. It was also the home where their five children had lived and known all their lives.

As retirees on a fixed income, the Sotelos feared they would be unable to enjoy living independently in their own home and would be forced to live with relatives. It was then that the Sotelos' daughter Rosa Sotelo, and her sister, turned to the City of Austin for assistance. The Sotelo daughters learned of the Austin Housing Finance Corporation's Homeowner Rehabilitation Loan Program which assists homeowners with repairs like foundation, roofing, plumbing and electrical work. In the event that a home is economically infeasible to repair, such as the case with the Sotelo home, the AHFC demolishes the existing home and reconstructs a new one.

The Sotelos didn't waste any time applying for the program and soon learned that they were eligible for assistance. The Sotelos were thrilled at the idea of rebuilding their home and remaining in the neighborhood they have grown to love. "Even today, my parents still can't believe that this is their new home," said Rosa Sotello. "It's almost too good to be true," she said.

The Sotelo family will officially move in their newly reconstructed home on October 31, 2002.

The Neighborhood Housing and Community Development Office's mission is to provide housing, community development, and small business development services to benefit residents so they can have access to livable neighborhoods and increase their opportunities for self-sufficiency.

The Austin Housing Finance Corporation was created in 1979 and assists Austin citizens with first-time homebuyer and home repair programs. The AHFC's primary mission is to generate and implement strategic housing finance solutions to benefit low-and moderate-income residents of the City of Austin.

The City of Austin is committed to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended. Reasonable modifications and equal access to communications will be provided upon request. Please call 974-3100 (voice) or 974-3102 (TDD) for assistance. This project is made possible by funding from HUD through the City of Austin.

CONTACT: Brenda Ham, (512) 974-3175 (voice) or (512) 802-7105 (pager)