No one in Luella Crosby’s family had ever owned a home. From the day she was born seventy years ago up until now she has lived in countless rental homes in Charlotte.
The Charlotte native has worked in several different jobs over her lifetime. She was a packer for Bigger Brothers, a Charlotte food distributor that became part of U.S. Foods, until the plant moved out of state. She had several different manufacturing jobs that similarly left town. Her favorite job was as a nurses’ assistant: “my main thing is people and I like to console people, let them know someone cares,” she says.
Now retired and on a fixed income, Ms. Crosby says she got tired of paying rent. “The landlords were always nice, but every year the rent would go up, so I would end up having to move again.”
She had been thinking about buying a car when she heard about Community Link’s home buying program, and wondered if a larger financial goal might be possible.
“Ms. Crosby had so many questions when she first called, and I just encouraged her to come to a Get the Facts class” says Frances Hayden, the Community Link intake specialist who took her first call. These classes, offered every Monday evening, give an overview of the program and the responsibilities and benefits of home ownership. “When she came to the class she was so nervous, she showed up over an hour early!” says Frances, who sat with Ms. Crosby past closing time until the 6 pm session began.
Ms. Crosby decided to enroll in the program, and was assigned to one of our HUD certified counselors, Andrea Adams. “Ms. Adams was very professional; she told me precisely what to do and what to bring, and how much money I would need. I liked her style,” says Ms. Crosby.
Andrea says that one of the biggest obstacles she sees for those in the program is not truly committing. “They have a picture of the home, the decor, and the lifestyle, but overlook what it takes to get it, maintain it and keep it,” says Andrea. “I tell my clients that home ownership is a dream, but it can be a nightmare if they’re not careful.”
“Ms. Crosby came with an open mind and a heart to learn,” says Andrea. “She knew this was a big step, and there was a lot she didn’t understand: she was afraid. I was very patient and made sure to explain, and at times re-explain, every little step.”
Now at seventy years old Ms. Crosby is a first-time homeowner. The house she finally purchased is a tidy brick ranch with two bedrooms and a fenced yard. Through the home purchase program she was able to get several thousand dollars of down payment assistance.
Andrea also made sure Ms. Crosby applied for property tax discounts available to her as a senior citizen, and got her ID and voter registration set up at her new address. She even connected Ms. Crosby to another nonprofit that helps low-income seniors weatherize their homes. Ms. Crosby now has a manageable monthly housing cost that won’t go up every year, and a home of her own.
“I have always wanted a home, and now I finally got one,” says Ms. Crosby. “If I hadn’t had Ms. Adams and Community Link I know I wouldn’t have had this house.”
Find out more about down payment assistance and Community Link’s home purchase program.