Top Community Development Organization Empowers First-Time Homeowners
Washington, DC – November 20, 2012 – (RealEstateRama) — As individuals and families prepare for Thanksgiving, and to host loved ones in their homes, NeighborWorks America celebrates new homeowners across the country as they experience the special joy of homeownership. NeighborWorks America, which creates opportunities for people to live in affordable homes, improve their lives and strengthen their communities, supports a network of more than 235 nonprofits, located in every state, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. NeighborWorks organizations work year round to help place and keep people in the right homes—from rentals to homeownership, offering pre- and post-homeownership counseling, assisting consumers to make smart, informed decisions throughout the process.
Many NeighborWorks organizations, including NeighborWorks HomeOwnership Centers, provide services which include loan origination and brokering, affordability assistance, retention of homeownership through property rehabilitation and responsible refinancing, and foreclosure intervention and solutions. The homeownership efforts of NeighborWorks reflect a commitment to responsible homeownership—the right home at the right price with strong pre- and post-purchase counseling.
The following are examples of the consumers NeighborWorks organizations have served in the homeownership process:
- Paul Jones woke up in December 2010 gasping for air as black smoke filled his home. The fire was put out but the home was destroyed, and Paul had no insurance to cover the damages. But with the help of the Columbus Cottage Program, a partnership between NeighborWorks Columbus (Columbus, GA) and the city government, Paul, a retired laborer on a surveying crew for the Department of Transportation, will receive a free home makeover. This Thankgiving he gives thanks that in days the rebuilding of his home will begin. On November 26, NeighborWorks Columbus will begin tearing down Paul’s home and building a cottage in its place, allowing him to live on the same site where he has lived for nearly 40 years. “I am very humbled to get a cottage. I am thankful to NeighborWorks Columbus. I have missed my home and this will allow me to go home again,” said Paul Jones.
- Joel and Angelica Hipolito moved into a new home with their children, boys ages 15 and 12 and an 8-year-old girl, with the help of Affordable Homes of Texas (McAllen, TX.) They will spend Thanksgiving in their new home. Their daughter will celebrate her birthday that week in the new home she calls ‘her birthday present’. “Affordable Homes helped us buy our first home. We were not familiar with the home buying process. It was our first time. Affordable Homes guided and helped us through the process,” said Joel and Angelica Hipolito.
- Marvin and Sheila moved into a home with their 8-year-old daughter and 4-year-old son that Homewise, Inc. (Santa Fe, NM.) helped build. Marvin works in construction and Sheila is a homemaker. This is their first single-family home and they previously lived in a mobile home for 6 years. “Once we were ready, it happened quickly. From the time we decided on the home we wanted to purchase to the closing date was two to three weeks. Everything was explained so well and it all went smoothly,” said Marvin and Sheila.
“Everyone needs a home to feel safe, stable and healthy,” said NeighborWorks America CEO Eileen Fitzgerald. “Our NeighborWorks organizations provide the essential resources and tools for the homebuying process so that consumers understand that owning a home is attainable. Through our homeownership programs, we are making responsible homeownership a realistic and deeply satisfying option for the many consumers who desire it.”
For more about NeighborWorks America, go to www.nw.org. To locate a NeighborWorks organization, go to http://www.nw.org/network/Utilities/NWOLookup.asp.
About NeighborWorks America
For nearly 35 years, NeighborWorks America has created opportunities for people to improve their lives and strengthen their communities by providing access to homeownership and to safe and affordable rental housing. In the last five years, NeighborWorks organizations have generated more than $19.5 billion in reinvestment in these communities. NeighborWorks America is the nation’s leading trainer of community development and affordable housing professionals.Contacts:
Lindsay Moore,, 202-220-6317, twitter: @neighborworkspr
