IN THE NEWS: Marking 20 years of new homes and new lives in Webster Parish

(Shreveport Times) Connie Allen of Springhill, La., says that a couple of decades ago, she was the epitome of the working poor. Then a single mother of a 7-year-old boy, she worked days as a school secretary and nights and weekends at Wal-Mart. She made too much money to receive assistance, yet she struggled to make ends meet. Owning a home was certainly out of the question.

However, a group formed a Habitat for Humanity affiliate in Webster Parish, and 20 years ago Allen received the keys to a new home. Since then, the affiliate has transformed into the Fuller Center for Housing of Webster Parish and built 50 more new homes. And Allen has paid off her home, put her son through college and risen to co-manager of the Wal-Mart in Minden, La.

The Shreveport Times takes a look at the 20th anniversary of this success story in this new article, which you can read in its entirety by clicking here.