Jodie and Paul Samala's long journey from a cramped, overpriced apartment to the joys of owning a roomy, affordable house began soon after Hurricane Ivan's arrival two years ago."We were in a rental at the time," said Jodie Samala. "My husband and I almost bought a house before Ivan. But after the storm, the owners backed out."In the immediate wake of the hurricane, Paul Samala lost his job at the Crowne Plaza Pensacola Grand hotel, which is set to reopen in November after months of storm repairs.The couple and their small child were forced to move in with relatives.Because Ivan destroyed some 2,000 rental units in the greater Pensacola area, finding an affordable unit was a major challenge, Jodie Samala said.Eventually the Samalas found a rental apartment, but their monthly payments soared from $675 to $1,100, well beyond what they could afford."We knew we had to do something," she said.What they did was approach the City of Pensacola's Housing Department and apply for down-payment assistance through the state's Hurricane Housing Recovery Program.Because the Samalas' gross income was about 80 percent of the median average for the Pensacola area, the family of three qualified for a $50,000 grant, which would be held by the city and treated as a second mortgage.That grant money, coupled with the Samalas' conventional first mortgage, helped them purchase a new home in June and effectively lowered their monthly payments to a figure that, by general rule, must be less than 30 percent of gross family income.And to sweeten the deal, $10,000 of the Samalas' $50,000 second mortgage will be forgiven after the first year if they decide to sell the home, according to Jimmie McFall, manager of the city's SHIP (State Housing Initiatives Partnership) program.The remaining $40,000 will be forgiven once the mortgage is paid."We probably would have left Pensacola had we not be able to buy an affordable home," said Jodie Samala, a 1993 graduate of Catholic High School.McFall says Hurricane Housing Recovery Program money, which may run out within the year, is being maximized in the Escambia and Santa Rosa area.Using those funds, and taking advantage of several in-fill vacant lots, McFall says the city has more than 30 affordable housing units under construction, with more on the way.A home of her ownKaren Incera is another grateful recipient of Hurricane Housing Recovery Program money and was one of the fortunate ones to be given, at no cost to her, a vacant in-fill lot acquired by the city.The former Miami resident, who works for Deep South Crane Rentals Inc., said she expects to move into her new home on Coyle Street early next month."Someone mentioned the State Housing Initiatives Partnership Program to me, and I called, and they gave me a pamphlet," said Incera, a single mother of three.

DeSoto News Briefs Costume contest volunteers needed

Young Professionals of DeSoto are hosting the Main Street Fall Festival Costume Contest from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Oct. 28. Volunteers are needed to help with the registration tables, herding kids onto the stage, passing out prizes, judging and more. Even one hour would be helpful. I've attached the registration form for the costume contest so be sure to get your kids (or yourself) registered. Contact Melissa Sanders at 863-558-0542 to offer volunteer services or to get a contest registration form.

Gardner/Fish Branch Reunion

The Gardner/Fish Branch annual reunion will be held Oct. 29 in Zolfo Springs at the Pioneer Park pavilion building. Please bring a basket lunch and tea or soft drink of your choice. Table service will be furnished. Lunch will be served at 1 p.m. Renew friendships and enjoy a day together.

Judge freezes assets in mobile home case

A judge this week froze the assets of two men accused of leaving mobile home buyers with faulty titles and thousands of dollars in unpaid taxes that should have been handled by the sellers.

The Huizars and a third man, David Barroso, were sued by the Attorney General's Office in March, accused of providing home buyers with faulty property titles and leaving them with debts for unpaid taxes and other liens that should have been paid by the sellers.

Berglund Hall Construction Report

The James and Mary Berglund Hall or simply Berglund Hall will be constructed between Murdock Hall and Taylor-Meade Performing Arts Center on the southeast corner of campus on Cedar Street. The building is 42,285 square feet on two floors and a partial lower level. The new building will house the College of Education, School of Business, Child Development Center, Oregon Holocaust Resource Center and the Berglund Center for Internet Studies.

Excavation for the structural footings began last week. Soils removed during this work will be temporarily stored off-site and will be returned as backfill for the foundation and site grading.