Homeownership Success Stories
Michelle's Story
Michelle grew up in Flagstaff, attended Flagstaff High School, and has worked hard to make her living here in her hometown, surrounded by friends and family she knows and loves.
A year ago, Michelle and her two daughters, Tracy and Adrian, were living in a small, 2-bedroom apartment in Sunnyside. Tracy, who?s 13, and Adrian, who?s 11, had shared their small bedroom their entire lives. They had never had a backyard to play in and, as they grew up, they learned to ride bikes and rollerblades not in their neighborhood but near their grandparents? house because of the traffic on their street.
Although Michelle earned a good living working for Waste Management for the past 15 years, as a single-mother she still counted every penny and lived on a tight budget. Over the years, too, she found that money didn?t go quite as far as rental payments for her apartment continued to increase as property values locally soared.
Thankfully, Michelle heard about BOTHANDS and our homebuyer assistance program. Through our organization, Michelle received not only monetary assistance for down payment on a home, but attended one-on-one sessions, learning about the home-buying process, managing credit and getting her questions answered.
Now, Michelle, Tracy and Adrian, are living in their first home, which they purchased in Mobil Haven on May 25, 2004 with more than $11,000 in assistance from BOTHANDS. Now, not only do Tracy and Adrian have their own rooms for the first time in their lives, but Michelle knows that she will be able to stay in the Flagstaff community, near her family and friends. With help from BOTHANDS, Michelle, Tracy and Adrian have found not only a house, but a home.
Maggie's Story
Two years ago, Maggie and her sons were sleeping in sleeping bags on the floor of a friend's trailer. They had no place to live after Maggie's ex-boyfriend kicked them out of the house and they were struggling to make it here in Flagstaff.
At the time, Maggie's son Chris was 11 years old and her oldest son, Kyle, was 13. Maggie worked for a small local company watering and caring for plants in various businesses in town, but she certainly didn't make much money in the job. In fact, her annual income was less than $18,000 and that included child support.
Maggie was a struggling single mom who was desperately working to keep a roof over her children's heads, pay for food, clothing, insurance and other immediate expenses. We all know how hard it is to make a living here in Flagstaff and although she had lived here for 10 years, there were times when it did not look like Maggie and her family were going to be able to stay.
To be honest, when she first came to our organization, we did not think she would be able to find a home to fit her finances. More than once, while she was in our office for counseling, she broke down crying as the reality of her situation became more than she could bear.
But Maggie was determined to find a home for her sons and that kept her going even when things looked bleak. She attended counseling, took the advice to heart and followed Donavann?s directions to a T. She read the newspaper every day looking for a home for sale and she drove around town searching for a For Sale By Owner sign. Because she was so persistent, Maggie found her home. Before it was even listed on the Multiple Listing Service, two days after the For Sale sign first appeared, Maggie found her home and made an offer.
Escrow closed and Maggie moved in to her home July 11, 2002. But it wouldn?t have been possible without assistance from BOTHANDS. Maggie and her family received $9,500 in down payment assistance and more than $2,500 to cover her closing costs.
Today, Maggie says buying a home was the answer to her prayers. Not only does she have stability and financial security, but her boys are growing up going to the same schools, keeping close friends and knowing that they won?t have to sleep on somebody else?s floor ever again.
Maggie;s family is just one of the more than 150 that BOTHANDS has helped into homeownership. We are truly making the American Dream come true right here in Flagstaff.
