After a summer of anticipation, three lucky Bridgeport families came away winners Thursday in a city homeownership lottery.

The city recently bought boarded-up homes at rock-bottom prices from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The homes were renovated and are being sold below market rate to working-class families through a lottery system.

Bridgeport Mayor John Fabrizi held the drawing for three newly renovated homes at reduced prices.

A house at 66 Englewood Ave. went to Horatio Bula, a Bridgeport man who works for a cleaning company. Bula said the city fulfilled the American dream for him.

The seven families vying for the three homes had to go through homebuyer education courses and counseling. The people who got houses have 60 days to finalize their sales.

City officials say seven more homes should be available before the end of the year.