Jan 29, 2021 · Written By Andy Kegley

During 2020, feel-good stories just have not felt as prevalent as in years past. But we have been fortunate to have a few in what has been a tough year for all. One of our major goals here at HOPE Inc. is to help those seeking affordable housing solutions—be it rental or homeownership. HOPE’s housing counselors work with and provide resources to clients to improve their financial situation so that they may become viable candidates for either a rental or purchase of a home.

One of our best success stories this year is Regina Schultz. Ms. Schultz came to HOPE in November, 2019 seeking assistance to purchase a home for herself and her two granddaughters whom she is raising. To begin with, Ms. Schultz took Credit Improvement Focus Area (CIFA) classes as provided by Virginia Housing. This course helps clientele with budgeting income, prioritizing debt or collections owed, and set up a savings account, among a variety of other things to help improve a client’s credit score.

Following the completion of the course in early 2020, Ms. Schultz still had challenges ahead of her – the least of which included having to be quarantined three separate times because of possible COVID-19 exposures. Fortunately, she never contracted the virus and worked through income challenges.

In mid-2020, Ms. Schultz had improved her financial status enough to begin looking for a home to purchase. She found a possible home in Marion, VA, but the home had some foundation issues in addition to other maintenance items needing attention. Ms. Schultz came back to HOPE saying she had found the home she wanted but did not think she would be able to afford the improvements that needed to be done. By working with one of our Pre-Purchase Housing Counselors, Ms. Schultz discovered that with a little work with the sellers, the house could have the necessary improvements made and she could afford it!

In late-September of 2020, after almost 10 months and a lot of work, Ms. Schultz closed on her home in Marion, VA! Below is a picture of Regina and her two granddaughters, Abby and Amelia, on the day of their closing. She even left her housing counselor a wonderful note saying, “I just wanted to thank you again for being so helpful and patient with me during those whole process. You were a very big part of our forever home.” To say the HOPE office was ecstatic for her would be an understatement, and it brightens our day (sometimes week or month) to hear someone we have been working with say they have found their home!

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