When Shon H. applied for The Bridge to Homeownership Program, Shon's family was living in a three bedroom apartment in South St. Louis that needed unlimited repairs. Although the family worked diligently to maintain the property as best they could, they longed for something to call their own. Shon, a single mother of four, her two sons (Reginald 18 and La Ron 15) and her two daughters (Porchea 17 and Shonekka 12) desperately wanted their own home. Through a partnership between Habitat for Humanity Saint Louis, Beyond Housing and The St. Louis Housing Authority, this family, as well as several others, was able to take find a safe and affordable home to call their own.

Homebuyer Shon H. and her son LaRon, work diligently on their new home.

Through this unique partnership, Shon and her four children successfully completed the required first-time homebuyer training which provided them with valuable life skills. These training classes included topics such as Finance & Budgeting, Predatory Lending Awareness, & College Preparation. Shon's family also worked diligently helping to build their home every work day because they knew that this was their opportunity. This training is a vital part of the program because it promotes long-term homeowner success, and enables families to become an intricate part of re-building our communities.

During the Program's training, participants learn that homeownership is much more than simply owning your home. It brings about a sense of pride & confidence knowing that you were able to achieve this monumental stepping stone of life. It also brings about stability, which allows families to focus on building better lives for themselves. "We have waited so long for this and now it is so hard to believe that it is finally here," said Shon at her house dedication ceremony.

During the construction of her new home Shon was working as a Senior Teller for Regions Bank, and she has since received a promotion to Bank Manager. She is very proud that her hard work and dedication with the company was recognized and honored. Shon is also gleaming with pride that her son Reginald recently graduated from Clyde C. Miller High School in the top ten of his graduating class, and is headed to Maryville University on a scholarship to study business.

***

Thanks to the Bridge to Homeownership Program for providing information about their housing opportunities, and to Elvira Kollar in HUD's St. Louis, MO office, assisted by HUD's 2008 Leadership Development Program, for bringing this success story to the public's attention.