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On Friday, several families within the community were participants of the new home giveaway drawing that was sponsored by The Black Belt Community Foundation (BBCF), the Selma Housing Authority, NACA, which is the Neighborhood Assistance Corporation of America and the city of Selma that was geared together to bring upon change.

The new home giveaway drawing was a chance for qualifying residents within the city who demonstrated financial hardship and a lack of accessibility to stable housing, obtain their goal of homeownership and the ability to make a change within their lives and the lives of their family members.

About 25 local families were eligible for the home giveaway and each family who participated had to be a part of the BBCF Head Start Family program to be considered but only one chosen family could have the dream of a lifetime, being able to turn the key and call their new residence, their home.

Today is truly special,” said Jasmine Robinson, who is the executive assistant to Mayor Perkins. “Not only because of the raffle that will change someone’s life but also because of the commitment, hard work and collaboration that has gone into making homeownership a reality for some families in our community. We are fortunate to live in a city where partnership like the one we are celebrating today continues to thrive. It is partnerships like local government organizations, developers and community leaders that create opportunities for affordable housing and to ensure that more of our residents can achieve the dream of home ownership. A big congratulations in advance to the winner of today’s raffle.”

NACA CEO Bruce Marks spoke to the crowd as well and the participants of the raffle about achieving the impossible when it comes down to homeownership.

“Achieving the impossible is a mortgage that has no down payment, no closing costs, no fees at a bull market fixed rate and that’s what NACA does. The impossible is what the Selma Housing Authority does by saying someone with a section 8 Housing Choice Voucher can purchase a beautiful home, in less than 20 years, own that home outright, generating over $200,000 in wealth. The Impossible is what the Black Belt Foundation is doing to give away a house to someone who deserves that house through the head start program and who is deserving of affordable home ownership.”

Like Robinson and Marks, many others including the BBCF HeadStart Director Dr. Tequila Monroe spoke on the behalf of new home giveaway drawing and during the actual drawing of the raffle for the home, everyone gathered around and Kennard Randolph, who is the President and CEO of the Selma Housing Authority spun the golden wheel that contained the names of the participants and Felecia Lucky, who is the president of the Black Belt Community Foundation revealed the name of the lucky home giveaway winner, which was Ms. Desiree McGuire.

“I thank God for this perfect opportunity,” McGuire said. “It is truly a blessing. Know that life and death is in the power of the tongue and it’s always good to speak what you want.”

McGuire went on to continue her words of gratitude and she told Selma Times Journal exclusively, “It is truly a blessing to me and my kids. “

McGuire said knowing that the home is officially hers, is the best feeling ever and she said before the day of the home giveaway, she spoke to God specifically and proclaimed that the house was hers.

“Through this opportunity, it gives me and my kids hope, “McGuire said. “And, a stable place to call home.”

McGuire is the second recipient of the “New Home Giveaway Drawing” and according to The Selma Housing Authority, Randolph said he wants other participants just like McGuire, to never give up hope and to keep striving to one day achieve the opportunity of homeownership.