On Jan. 29, New Jersey resident Latoya Hardin became a homeowner when she received the keys to a house from the city of Newark, N.J., in the latest round of the city's housing lottery, NJ Spotlight News reports.
The city-owned properties in the program require repairs or construction, and the selected owners can get a low-interest mortgage to help them pay for work to improve the property.
Hardin is one of several residents who are now homeowners thanks to the Newark Homeownership Revitalization lottery program. The city is partnering with the Neighborhood Corporation of America to give long-term residents the chance to buy a home. Roughly 78% of Newark residents are renters.