More than 30 people placed their hands in prayer on Alvin Brown’s house Friday.

Despite facing 40-degree weather, they prayed for his new house to become a home and that he lives a life of hope.

“Thanks for the power to transform strangers into neighbors and to add to the fiber of a neighorhood,” prayed Greg Hunt, senior pastor at First Baptist Church of Shreveport.

Brown, along with his new neighbor, Latrice Bell, is the latest person to receive a house from the Fuller Center for Housing of Northwest Louisiana. In partnership with Community Renewal International, and area churches such as First Baptist Church of Shreveport and First United Methodist Church, the nonprofit dedicated two new houses in the Allendale area.

“This is a dual celebration,” said Averil Miles, executive director of the local Fuller Center in front of a small crowd. “We must give honor to God. A lot of sweat and tears have gone into these houses.”

The Fuller Center was founded in the area in 2005 after hurricanes Katrina and Rita ravaged the Louisiana coastline. Founder Millard Fuller pledged to build about 60 dwellings for low-income residents and those the storms left homeless. The local affiliate struck out on its own in November 2007 and organized a housing blitz. Last year, nine homes were built and were sold with no-interest mortgages to low-income families.

Next year, the local chapter will construct its 40th house.

On Friday, Brown stood outside of his house, smiling and greeting the people who came to wish him well. Originally from Bastrop and one of 11 siblings, he’s lived in Shreveport for six years and moved into his home on Alston on Saturday.

“It’s breathtaking,” he said. “When your a child you always dream of having something of your own. God saw fit to give me land to build a house.”

Volunteers from First Baptist helped finance and build Brown’s home. Volunteers from First United Methodist and students from Job Corps helped build Bell’s home.

Hunt, said the church also helped construct three other houses in Allendale.

“This is the joyful part of this,” he said

Mack McCarter, coordinator of Community Renewal International, said Friday’s event was another symbol of the neighbor’s change.

“Standing on this corner in 2004, this area was inhabited by gang members every day,” he said. “As you can see, the shotgun houses are gone. What we have witnessed is a true transfer from despair to hope.”

For Brown, hope has three bedrooms, a kitchen, and a living room.

“I never thought there were still some good people in the world,” he said.

© Icess Feandez/Shreveport-Times – ifernandez@gannett.com

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