La Crosse Program Helps With Home Ownership

LA CROSSE, Wis. (AP) -- A program new in La Crosse helps hometown heroes purchase, sell or refinance a house.

Real estate agents, insurers, home inspectors and others offer their services for free to people that meet the criteria of a hero. The program has a wide definition of a hero. It might be veterans, military members, police officers, firefighters, teachers or health care workers.

Tri-State paramedic Crystal Johnson was able to purchase a home for her and her three children with help from the program. Johnson says she doesn't consider herself a hero, but is appreciative to have help with the first home she bought on her own.

WKBT-TV says the program was created by a group of Minnesota business owners in 2002 who were inspired by the heroes of Sept. 11.

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