After paying off its Rural Development Loan from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Hillcrest Duplexes in Lamesa now is able to offer rental spaces with no restrictions on income. For at least the last 40 years – the lifespan of that federal loan – Hillcrest Duplexes was required to offer rental assistance to moderate-income, low-income and/or very low-income residents, according to Carol Smith, who has managed the duplexes for 23 years. “As a non-profit, we still have a goal to provide housing for needy individuals,” Smith said, “and they can get assistance (with the cost of rent) through the HUD program.” In recent ...