Betty Barnes doesn’t mince words when she says she once had the ugliest house on the street.

“It was all clunked up and out of code,” she says. “Now it looks snap-brand-new. When I see it I have to remind myself that I live here, and I shout, ‘谢谢你！ Lord!’”

Betty has lived in her 东足球外围买球靠谱平台 Village ranch for 53 years. It’s where she raised her four children and was the refuge she returned to each day after working multiple jobs to support her family. “It’s a peaceful home with good spirit,” says Betty. “I remember my kids doing flips off the back porch and riding their big wheel down the sidewalk. It’s seen a lot of growth and a lot of love.”

几十年来, Betty has watched 东足球外围买球靠谱平台 Village grow up around her, transforming into a vibrant community with big new houses, restaurants and a library. 在那段时间里, her own home began to deteriorate, but money to address the necessary repairs was always hard to come by.

Betty considers it a blessing that she learned about the Invest Atlanta Owner Occupied Rehab program, which helps long-time Atlanta residents make needed repairs so they can safely remain in their homes. 在贝蒂的案例中, those repairs involved new insulation, 站, 外部画, window replacements and the removal of bee nests and termites. She even received new address numbers.

Betty says people don’t recognize her house when they drive by now, not to mention it’s up to code and her utility bills are much lower.

“This program is just wonderful,” she says. “Us seniors have worked our whole lives, and we don’t want to give up our homes and communities to go live in a nursing home – we want to stay. I pray people learn about this program and pursue it.”