LONE GROVE, OK - The Little Dixie Self Help Housing program has been around for over 30 years, But on Friday the agency finished its first house in Carter County, and after five months and hundreds of hours in labor, the new homeowners say they're excited to have a home they can call their own.

Cory and Lori Brown say six months ago their dream of building a new home seemed out of their reach.

"At the time II had just got out of school and I was in it for two years without any work history at that time, so it worked out perfect timing for us," Cory says.

The Browns are the first residents in Carter County to build a house using the Little Dixie Self Housing program, sponsored by USDA loans to help low income families become homeowners. While contractors were there to help with the building process, the Browns put over 100 hours of labor into their new home.

"It just gives the family a sense of pride about the home, about maintaining the home, and being a home owner. And they just have a lot more into than a contractor built house," says Little Dixie Program Director Terri Harless says.

Harless says although the Little Dixie program has only been in Carter County for a year they have already seen a great response from the community.

"We're going to apply for a new grant, it should start August 1st, and I think she has 13 families signed up for that. So we realize that there is a huge demand for this program here, and we're just really excited to be here," Harless says.

Brown says although the building process was frustrating at times he's gained more from the experience than just a new home.

"More handy man skills, so I'm sure my wife's going to need more of them now, but I just learned that there are a lot of people out there that care and with this program I know other families will get put into houses too just as wonderful and have a great experience like we did."

The Browns say they plan to start moving into their home next week and are excited to help two other families in Carter County finish their new homes. Harless says they are expected to have the second home complete in July.