New Castle County Celebrates Homeownership Milestones

Homeowner Annette Ashman represented the County's 50 clients who purchased homes through the New Castle County Housing Choice Voucher Home Ownership Program.

New Castle County Executive Matt Meyer and Region III Regional Administrator take time for a photo before the County's program.

Annette Ashman hadn't planned on telling her story. She admitted that she really didn't feel entirely comfortable behind a microphone. But, she said she didn't want to miss out on the opportunity to thank the members of New Castle County's housing team who helped her become a first-time homeowner. She was one of eight families joining New Castle County leaders, state and federal officials, housing counselors and homeowners as they marked National Homeownership Month by celebrating historic milestones in County-administered homeownership programs.

Ms. Ashman represented the County's 50 clients who through their hard work, and support from New Castle County's Housing Choice Voucher Homeownership Program, have found their "place" to call home. What's unique about the Housing Choice Voucher homeownership program is that it allows families who are assisted under the Housing Choice Voucher Program to use their voucher to buy a home and receive monthly assistance in meeting homeownership expenses. Participants in the program receive homeownership and housing counseling—guidance to help them be successful as first-time homebuyers and future homeowners.

In January 2009, Annette Ashman found herself on the New Castle County Housing Choice Voucher waiting list. Flash forward to October 2015, Ms. Ashman attended a homeownership briefing. By March 2016, Annette had not only completed her first-time homeownership counseling program, she obtained a 15-year mortgage with an incredibly low interest rate because of her outstanding credit. Now she and her husband, Tyrone, are both employed full-time while raising their three children—Aniyah, Ayanna and Tyler. They are paying 100 percent of their mortgage and will be completely off housing assistance by January 31, 2019—less than three years after entering the homeownership program.

"I can't describe the wonderful feeling I have every evening when I pull into my very own driveway. No more driving around the block hoping to find a place to park," she remarked. "It's wonderful to be home."

New Castle County Executive Matthew Meyer also acknowledged that 4,000 New Castle County families became homeowners through the New Castle County Down Payment and Settlement Assistance program—a program leveraging federal Community Development Block Grant and other funding to provide low interest loans to low- and moderate- income households. The County Executive Meyer also applauded the 100 homes purchased through the County's Workforce Housing programs (inclusionary zoning) as well as the rehabilitation and resale of 200 vacant and blighted homes to income-qualified homebuyers.

"Today, we celebrated HUD's partnership with New Castle County in providing programs that have helped thousands of New Castle County residents attain homeownership and self-sufficiency," stated Joe DeFelice, HUD Regional Administrator for the Mid-Atlantic region. "What a win-win for residents and their community."

###