The Fayette County Disaster Recovery Team closed on a 23-acre plot of land Friday, in hopes to build a housing development there for dozens of flood victims.
"There's no words to explain what it feels like to be able to move forward on this project," said Joy Cameron, the President of the Fayette County Disaster Recovery Team.
The development, which will include about 75 homes, a park, and a community building, will be called Hope Hills.
"It's hard to imagine that all of this was under water at one time," said Kellie Smith.
Smith lived in the mobile home park. Her entire home was destroyed by flood waters.
"Everything in the home, just gone," said Smith.
For months, she's been living at a Best Western motel, and just moved into a FEMA trailer a few weeks ago.
"It's hard," said Smith.
She's just ready to go home.
"Something to actually call home home, not something on loan," said Smith.
FCDRT is working to find flood victims like Smith a new home.
"Today makes it all official," said Cameron.
KVUE was there Friday as the committee signed the papers to close on the land.
"We're excited to get started," said Cameron.
A $3 million donation from Samaritan's purse allowed them to buy the land, and will give them a start to build infrastructure.
"Without that funding, we would never be able to do the infrastructure that needs to be done on this property," said Cameron.
Cameron said they hope to raise about $7-9 million in total.
"We're going to develop this into a small fishing pond. We're going to have a park area out here," said Kenny Couch, as he showed KVUE around the 23-acre land Friday.
Couch is the executive director of the Fayette County Disaster Recovery Team, and said they will need volunteers to help build the homes.
"This project's very critical for La Grange. We have a lot of families that right now don't have anywhere of their own to call home," said Couch. "Our goal is to put them in permanent housing, keep them in our community, and let them know how important they are to us."
"It's really exciting, it's like Christmas day here in May," said Mayor Janet Moerbe.
Moerbe said the development brings hope to some of the flood victims.
"It is a means of keeping them in the community and showing how important they are to us," said Moerbe. "This mainly affected our workforce, and this was a population that this community, economically, and as neighbors are connected to and dependent on. "
"If they fought through what they fought through so far to stay here, they more than deserve to be a part of our community forever," said Couch.
Moerbe said it's a step in the right direction.
"Affordable housing has been a problem in our community prior to the flood, but it was an amazing need, once we had over 200 homes flooded out," said Moerbe.
Its all for the people whose homes were ripped away by mother nature, and whose neighbors are working hard to turn this piece of nature into their new home.
"It's awesome, I just, I'm sorry, it's hard for me to think that I might have a chance, to be able to call a place home," said Smith.
If you want to donate or volunteer, visit the FCDRT website here.