Top 5 from 2015

The year 2016 is around the corner, making it the perfect time to look back on the milestones and successes that made 2015 a wonderful year for United Housing and our customers. These blog posts--in no particular order--represent some of the areas we will build upon next year.

Happy New Year!

1. Nadia Aguirre joined our staff and we will now have increased outreach capabilities for Spanish speakers.
2. Priscilla Reid became Lending Manager, ushering in a new direction towards lending in-house. She is pictured in the blog post with Sarah Williams, who took out the first Home RePAIR loan done completely in-house and funded by United Housing. 
3. United Housing & St. Therese teamed up to provide a home for women. More on St. Therese here.
4. UHI partnered with the folks at the Shelby County Trustee's office to bring the Neighbor to Neighbor fair to Frayser.
5. We became one of the first Memphis organizations to team up with ioby, a crowdfunding platform that focuses on community development-related projects. Thanks to matching funds, our ioby campaign successfully raised over $3000! More on ioby in Memphis here.

We hope you have enjoyed taking a look back with us through some of our most exciting and memorable stories of 2015. Each story here represents new hope for the people involved, as they proactively work to secure a stable home for themselves and their families. These and others are the kind of stories you can see when you join us in 2016. Happy New Year to you and yours! 

Homebuyer Profiles: Dionna Pruitt

Make a difference by giving to UHI this Giving Tuesday!

In Fiscal Years 2014 & 2015, UHI helped over 750 individuals and families become homeowners. Here is a story of one family who became homeowners during our administration of the Memphis Shelby County Helping Homebuyers Program:

Dionna Pruitt was already planning to buy the home she was leasing when her Loan Officer from Community Mortgage called her one afternoon; she felt the new downpayment assistance program, Memphis-Shelby County Helping Homebuyers Program (MSCHHP) would be perfect for Dionna. MSCHHP--a $15,000 down payment assistance loan--is forgivable after five years of residence. Dionna was then able to take the Homebuyer Education class at United Housing with Homebuyer Educator Kendra Love; she found the course to be “very informational” and enjoyable due to its discussion-based format.

Of her homebuying experience with MSCHHP, Pruitt says that the program “gave me the opportunity to start over and move forward quickly” with her four children after her divorce. She already knew her neighbors from living in the neighborhood for two years before purchasing the home in Southeast Memphis. The house is a perfect home for her and her three youngest children, with one son off at college and only coming home for visits. Dionna is very happy with the MSCHHP program and enjoys her “new” neighborhood; she takes part in neighborhood activities as a member of the neighborhood association.

 Give today and help more homeowners like the Pruitts!

What is Giving Tuesday?

On Tuesday, December 1, United Housing is participating in #GivingTuesday, a global day dedicated to giving. 

Last year, more than 30,000 organizations in 68 countries came together to celebrate #GivingTuesday. Since its founding in 2012, #GivingTuesday has inspired giving around the world, resulting in greater donations, volunteer hours and activities that bring about real change in communities. We invite you to join the movement this December.

Why give to UHI?

Through our services, more than 300 people have become successful homeowners per year, leading to more stable homes and neighborhoods. You might already know that United Housing increases access to homeownership, helping more individuals become homeowners. But did you know how that affects our city, making Memphis and the Mid-South a better place?

Your dollars will go further with UHI.

Investment leverages private capital. UHI leverages your dollar $500 to $1 through stimulating the economy via real estate and the lending market.

UHI builds and rehabs housing for other nonprofits, including SRVS and Meritan, who provide medical residential housing to seniors and people living with disabilities.

UHI has provided more than 60 individuals with disabilities a safe, accessible place to live through partnerships with SRVS and Meritan, Inc. – mostly through accessible construction – like wheelchair ramps, accessible bathrooms, and entrance and exits.

UHI strengthens Memphis neighborhoods.

We are a stabilizing force in the local economy – we’ve been here for more than 20 years, helping more than 4,000 families save or buy a home. Our organization has had a $400 million impact on Memphis and Mid-South.

UHI is focusing on US Veterans.

Recently, United Housing helped five veterans have a safe and affordable place to live through Operation Home. Help us assist more veterans and give to UHI today!

Where Should I Give?

You can give to UHI by visiting http://www.uhinc.org/home-24/2012-10-31-17-32-37. #GivingTuesday is held annually after Thanksgiving (in the U.S.) and the widely recognized shopping events Black Friday and Cyber Monday. The day helps kick off the holiday giving season and inspires people to collaborate in improving their local communities and to give back in impactful ways to the charities and causes they support. Also, qualifying employees can have their employers match their giving! Check back on our pages after November 17 to see if your employer will match.

Those who are interested in joining United Housing’s #GivingTuesday initiative can visit

https://givingtuesday.force.com/GivingTuesday/apex/CommunitiesMyProfileVF?sfdc.tabName=01rF0000000ekZG

For more details about the #GivingTuesday movement, visit the UHI page on #GivingTuesday website (www.givingtuesday.org), Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/GivingTuesday) or follow @GivingTuesand the #GivingTuesday hashtag on Twitter.

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Meet Nadia Aguirre, Assistant Loan Processor

At United Housing, we make choices that leverage resources, allowing us to serve more people in the area of homeownership. With our lending department’s expansion and additional focus on identifying and assisting Spanish-speaking homeowners and clients, we were able to hire a loan processor who is fluent in Spanish. United Housing is pleased to add Nadia Aguirre to the lending department as assistant loan processor. Nadia is bilingual in English and Spanish, which will allow our organization to reach a wider range of individuals in our city.

“We’re excited about the future of our expanding lending department and United Housing as a whole,” said Executive Director Tim Bolding. “Nadia’s extensive background in the lending industry makes her a valuable asset to our team, and our ability to provide bilingual assistance to our clients is a huge advancement for United Housing.”

Nadia at our booth during the 2015 Frayser Fall Festival

Nadia’s experience in the field makes her an instant asset and fit for United Housing. For eight years, she was a financial counselor with Financial Counselors of America, where she served as a bilingual specialist and assisted with credit repair consolidation budgeting, mortgage modification, homebuyer education (HBE) debt management and drafted proposals for the Hardest Hit Fund.

A native of Mexico, Nadia attended the Chihuahua Institute of Technology in Chihuahua, Mexico, and Colegio Centro Cristiano in Santa Ana, El Salvador. Additionally, she is certified by NeighborWorks America in foreclosure prevention, HBE intervention and credit management. 

In her role as assistant loan processor with United Housing, Nadia is responsible for helping both English- and Spanish-speaking individuals throughout the loan approval process, which includes collecting and verifying applicant information, interviewing individuals who need assistance with loans and preparing loan documents.

“I’m very excited and happy to join such a great organization and environment,” said Nadia. “I look forward to assisting people of all backgrounds who have lending needs.”

We are thrilled to have Nadia join our team, and know her addition will greatly benefit customers both now and in the future. Check out the People on the Move highlight in the Memphis Business Journal for more on her new role. For more information on how we can help, call (901) 272-1122 or visit http://bit.ly/14F0Fx0.

Priscilla Reed Embraces New Role with United Housing

As the Lending Department at United Housing continues to expand, we're pleased to announce that Priscilla Reed has accepted a new position as Lending Manager. Previously, Priscilla served as our Special Projects Coordinator, assisting clients in foreclosure prevention and financial literacy. 

A former underwriter with experience in the private sector, Priscilla relishes the opportunity to work one-on-one with people who are dedicated to repairing their homes. She also holds certification from NeighborWorks America as a financial capability counselor, reflecting on her tremendous client-focused coaching skills. 

Sarah Williams (front left) signs her Home RePAIR loan with Priscilla Reed (right). This was the first Home RePAIR loan done completely in-house and funded by United Housing. 

"I'm excited to have the opportunity to teach more people about the benefits of financial planning," said Priscilla. "It's our goal to bring a high level of financial literacy and planning to a wider audience. The strategy includes outreach and marketing, so that more people in Memphis and the Mid-South will know what they can do through United Housing."

Priscilla's first order of business as Lending Manager is administering Home RePAIR, an in-house home loan program. Qualifying clients can take out a 1.5% loan of up to $15,000 to cover the span of 10 years in order to upgrade their homes. RePAIR lending is an important part of United Housing's strategy to help people who may not otherwise have access to financial professionals. Learn about UHI client Preston Gilliam's experience with the RePAIR program here: http://bit.ly/1RbIJ04. 

With the addition of the Lending Department, United Housing now offers three major areas of financial improvement for clients: homebuyer education, foreclosure mitigation counseling and lending through Home RePAIR. As our staff evolves, we will better reflect our focus on lending to enable us to assist more people. Because of this, more people will have access to loans to repair their homes, which in turn will make neighborhoods and communities stronger and more stable. 

Please join us in congratulating Priscilla on her new role! The Memphis Business Journal highlighted her in a recent People on the Move feature. She is ready and eager to help you with your lending needs. For more information on how we can help, call (901) 272-1122 or visit http://bit.ly/14F0Fx0.

Lukas Alfen Making a Mark in Memphis

This past summer, United Housing hosted Lukas Alfen, an eighth grade Science teacher at Woodstock Middle School through Teach for America - Memphis, as an intern. During his internship, Lukas helped develop a process for getting financial education to teachers through financial literacy tools that are used across the country. These tools help teachers share with their students how to mitigate bad spending habits and bad credit scores through financial education at an early age. 

In honor of today being World Teacher's Day, we caught up with Lukas to hear about his teaching journey and investment in the community. 

How long have you been teaching at this school?

I am in my second year at Woodstock Middle School as part of my two-year service commitment for Teach for America. Prior to beginning at Woodstock, I taught summer school at Memphis Business Academy in Frayser. 

 

What led you to the Teach for America program?

I joined the program because of my work as a teaching assistant during my undergraduate studies at Syracuse University. While there, I saw the impact a dedicated teacher can have on mindset and achievement of their students. I noticed how the strong relationships built in school helped facilitate success for students outside the classroom walls. I also felt that Teach For America would give me the opportunity to experience life in a unique part of the country, different from the Northeast.

What is the best part about teaching? Most challenging?

The best part about teaching is getting to know my students. Having conversations and hearing their opinions gives me a clearer perspective on not only myself, but my goal here in Memphis as well. Each student is so full of potential that I need to ensure I am intentional in directing their energy in ways that will prepare them for success in grade school and beyond.

The most challenging part about teaching for me is finding the time to accomplish all of the goals I have for my classroom. There are only so many hours in a day to teach students, prepare lessons, measure data and support extracurricular activities, that finding any down time is almost impossible.

Have you been able to use what you learned at United Housing this summer in your classroom this fall?

Working at United Housing has helped me better understand Memphis as a city and a community. The need to drastically improve the financial literacy skills of children in Memphis quickly became apparent. Because of this, I have committed myself to teaching the importance of learning financial education and money management skills early on to help open up opportunities in adulthood.

What inspires you to give back to your community?

My students inspire me each and every day. The teachable moments I have with them make all the work worthwhile. Going into a profession for the money was never something I wanted to do, as I would rather make a career in which my value would be measured in the impact I had on others.

Family takes advantage of United Housing's Home RePAIR program

After hearing about United Housing's Home RePAIR program on The Bev Johnson Show on 1070 WDIA, Preston and Barbara Gilliam knew right away it was exactly what they needed. The couple quickly contacted United Housing for an application, and within days they were notified of approval of the 1.5% loan to help repair damages to their home's roof and ceiling.

"We could not be happier about the work performed on our home," said Preston. "Mr. William Hampton and his Network Construction organization went above and beyond; the workers were courteous, respectful and did a wonderful job."

Preston and Barbara Gilliam - guests on The Bev Johnson Show on 1070 WDIA.

Many people need home repairs, but don't know who to call, which is why the Gilliams took the opportunity to be guests on The Bev Johnson Show's "Ask the Expert" segment. They wanted to share with others how smooth and organized the process was for them, so that others, who may not necessarily have cash on hand, can still upgrade their homes. In addition to visiting the studio to show gratitude to Bev Johnson for airing this helpful information, the Gilliams also wrote a thank you letter to United Housing. 

"We want to thank United Housing for having this loan program and taking us through the process," they wrote. "From start to finish, every step of the process was handled in a professional manner, and we are very pleased with the outcome."

United Housing's program and services ensure quality repair work and good inspections in order to keep people's homes maintained and in good condition. 

"Receiving the thank you letter was a treat for our staff," said Tim Bolding, Executive Director of United Housing. "Through our work, we can help provide real solutions to housing problems and help customers live in safe and healthy homes. If we can get more people's homes repaired, then neighborhoods will continue to be positively impacted."

For more information on how we can help fix your housing needs, call (901) 272-1122 or visit our website.

 

September is National Mortgage Professional Month

When The Community of St. Therese of Lisieux reached out to United Housing in need of a space for women to rebuild their lives after being on the streets, Landmark Community Bank helped make this happen and three women are now living in a safe home in Memphis. We'd like to highlight one mortgage professional in particular who played an important role in this project. 

Landmark Community Bank Senior Vice President Bryan Jones says the bank selects opportunities to support local nonprofits each year. With this project specifically, Jones provided a low-cost loan through a state-level community reinvestment program, titled the Community Investment Tax Credit Program. 

"This initiative has such a direct impact on Memphians who desperately need the help and want to get back into society," Jones said. "We're blessed to have organizations like United Housing and the Lisieux Community in our midst, and Landmark Bank was honored to play a small role in connecting the dots and offering the financing that provided a stable home."

The house has a capacity for five women to participate in a two-year program. Everyone involved has felt the impact, and two of the community participants are starting at Southwest Community College. Thank you to Landmark Community Bank, and to Bryan Jones for positively influencing the lives of others through your work as a mortgage professional. 

United Guaranty, a mortgage insurance company headquartered in Greensboro, N.C., has designated September as National Mortgage Professional Month. Submitted in July 2015, The Registrar at National Day Calendar officially declared it soon after. The goal of this month is to honor all of the mortgage professionals who play a role in helping people finance the dream of homeownership.

TEDxMemphis: What's Next?

By Amy Schaftlein, Director of Development + Communications

There was a buzz of anticipation in the morning air as audience members arrived at the sold-out conference that was the first of its kind in Memphis. As people walked in, they encountered a wall of cheerfully hued red sticky notes clustered around the question, “What’s Next for you?” Participants busied themselves by putting their ideas up on the board; the ideas ranged from earnest to zany, including “M.D.,” “Graduate,” “Artist” and even “Pizza.” On Saturday, August 29, passionate individuals from all over Memphis (including one from UHI), the Mid-South and beyond came together to explore fresh ideas that may have potential to shape Memphis and the world at the TEDxMemphis event at the University of Memphis’ Rose Theatre. 

The theme for this event? What’s Next for Memphis. But what is next for Memphis? Seventeen speakers from the arts, health, community development and business sectors presented topics on issues that are important to our city. Music, sports, and dance intersected with civic issues, city obstacles and education. Dr. Sarah Petschonek with Volunteer Odyssey spoke of volunteerism rooted in Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. She posited one way you can reach self-actualization may be through finding your passion in volunteerism in a Memphis nonprofit organization, maybe even finding a job doing what you love at the same time! Ephie Balllard-Johnson with Neighborhood Christian Centers is working in early childhood development with Operation Smart Child in partnership with the Urban Child institute to ensure babies start off on the right foot before entering kindergarten. She has assisted more than 50,000 neighbors in need annually. Marco Pave spoke about how arts and following his dream kept him alive in harsh North Memphis streets. Pave advocates for more investment in the arts because it’s a good investment – Memphis art nonprofits leverage the city’s investment 10 times over. Art keeps kids motivated in school, helps them to think critically and often saves them from a life of crime in ways it saved Pave himself. 

What were my favorite talks, you might ask? The talks I enjoyed most were about health care as well as the new Crosstown development in North midtown. 

Dr. Scott Morris spoke eloquently on the subject of holistic health. Our bodies are not machines, and the problem is partially our obsession with technology he says. Doctors must get to know the patients’ “whole health” to answer the question “why am I sick?” - the one question many doctors cannot answer. Why? The patients’ whole health can tell you who they are, where they are from, where they live, what they eat, and who they love. These questions bear some semblance to why they may have become sick – because many of the people that come to see Dr. Morris at the Church Health Center cannot be diagnosed with anything. Stress and anxiety are often from a broken heart – and it is hard to cure and find treatment for a broken heart, a broken neighborhood, or a broken spirit with an Rx pen. The Church Health Center averages 30,000 patient visits per year – the majority low income and uninsured. Dr. Morris and the Church Health Center are a major part of the Crosstown Concourse vision to create an urban village anchored in the arts, education and healthcare. 

 

Which brings me to my next favorite talk - Dr. Todd Richardson, the co-leader of the Crosstown Concourse and co-founder of Crosstown Arts. He compared the transformation of the 1.5 million square foot Sears Crosstown building with the dome of the Florence Cathedral. The Italian Renaissance, like all renaissances, was not about looking at the future but about resurrecting the past, looking within, and transforming and reusing the spaces that have been abandoned or forgotten. 

Finally, the New Ballet Ensemble and School’s founder and CEO Katie Smythe is working to bring ballet to all Memphis and Mid-South children. She aligns with educators and human service organizations to reach children on the margins. She listens to their thoughts and ideas about dance, often rooted in family and history. This creates a unique mix of ballet, Memphis jookin, breakdancing and so much more to the art form of ballet – making it rooted in place and time. However, Smythe knows that access does not equal equity. She understands that the kids have to go home at night to a situation that may not always help the child lead a healthy lifestyle. Smythe began adult education programs, especially in financial literacy, which may help some parents aid their children and themselves in creating a better environment for everyone.

From the United Housing perspective, financial literacy and healthy housing is essential to all of the arts, education and healthcare aspects of the work our fellow innovators are doing. Like access to a home, access to the arts does not always equal equity, as the subprime fallout has showed. Creating tools to empower our neighbors and to educate one another in cultural competency will allow for equity to grow in our neighborhoods. Financial literacy will create a much more sustainable homeowner and neighbor by decreasing foreclosure 30 percent.

Health and housing have never been talked about more than right now. Healthy homes are at the crux of a positive whole health experience. If you cannot keep your lights on or your roof from leaking or mold from getting into your walls and cabinets, then health outcomes cannot be enhanced no matter how many prescriptions you fill. Healthy housing must be a component in the Crosstown Concourse’s urban village. How will this village permeate the surrounding, existing neighborhoods? What jobs, housing and financial literacy resources will be available in the urban village? 

What is Next Memphis? With so many innovative speakers and so much work to do in our community, connecting and building on one another’s assets should make sure that whatever we are doing now can inform and positively impact what comes next.

TED is a nonprofit devoted to spreading ideas, usually in the form of short, powerful talks. TED began in 1984 as a conference where Technology, Entertainment and Design converged, and today covers almost all topics — from science to business to global issues — in more than 100 languages.

TEDx events are independently run and help share ideas in communities around the world. TEDx events are local and self-organized. They bring people together from that particular city, town or community to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks from live speakers and video combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local events are branded TEDx, where x=independently organized TED event.

Local Veteran Transitions into Homeownership

Veteran Tommy Green at his August 4 closing with Executive Director Tim Bolding.

Tommy Green, a U.S. veteran who served in the Marine Corps and graduated from the academy as Company Honorman, is a new homeowner through a UHI pilot program to connect veterans to homeownership. However, the road from serving his country to owning a home was a rocky one. After his service, Green experienced homelessness and struggled with addiction, but he was eventually able to complete Barron Heights CDC’s two-year addiction counseling program.

“I am a homeless veteran living in a transitional center at Barron Heights,” said Green. “We as veterans were notified about this deal United Housing had and how they were going to draw names to receive a home.”

Completing the Barron Heights program made Green eligible for the new, unique initiative of United Housing in which five veterans, who meet eligibility guidelines around homeownership preparedness, will get houses transferred to them with 100% forgivable mortgages after 15 years.

Green also completed our Homebuyer Education class, giving him an opportunity to learn more in-depth about insurance, home maintenance and more. “I thought class was very informative for a person like me who is unfamiliar with homeownership,” said Green. After turning his life around from the streets to a new home, he is looking forward to enjoying his new backyard and having his grandchildren over. Green is the first of five veterans to complete this program.

United Housing & St. Therese team to provide home for women

Landmark Community Bank Offers Low Interest Loan To Facilitate Purchase

 

When St. Therese of Lisieux – the “Saint of the Little Way” – said more than a century ago that people in distress could be saved by small acts of kindness, she may not have been thinking about food and shelter for women who are survivors of trauma and homelessness. But a Memphis non-profit has used the teachings of the Little Flower, as St. Therese is known, as an inspiration to build community with and for women who are looking to rebuild their lives after being on the streets.

And when the Memphis-based Community of St. Therese of Lisieux approached United Housing, Inc. (UHI) in need of space for three women in transition, the message resonated. Thanks to a partnership with the Lisieux Community, UHI, the Presbyterian Women (PCUSA) and Landmark Community Bank, those women now have a safe place to live as they work to get back on their feet.

“We participated in the national Community Stabilization Trust program that resulted from the settlement with the major national banks affected by the financial crisis. The banks provided foreclosed properties to non-profits like UHI for use as affordable housing,” said Amy Schaftlein, director of development and communications for UHI, a non-profit affordable housing agency that serves families in the city of Memphis, Shelby County and West Tennessee. “When organizations like St. Therese have a need, those properties could be fixed up and rented for a dollar a year for two years with an option to purchase, and meanwhile address a critical social challenge.”

Lisieux Community President Sandra Ferrell says a grant from the Presbyterian Women (PCUSA) allowed her organization to take the next step, not only purchasing the house but also making needed renovations. Landmark Community Bank in Memphis provided the low-cost loan through a state-level community reinvestment program.

“A foreclosed house had been sitting vacant for years, and now these three women have a home. It’s such a wonderful partnership of local and national organizations working together to make a difference on several levels,” Ferrell said. “Many times, people who find themselves on the street never learned to live as part of a family, and we help provide them with education, life skills, employment assistance and other programs. As St. Therese taught, we can do small things that add up to mean a lot to these women’s futures.”

Now two of the participants are starting at Southwest Community College, and everyone involved has felt the impact. Landmark Community Bank Senior Vice President Bryan Jones says the bank selects opportunities to support local non-profits each year.

“This initiative has such a direct impact on Memphians who desperately need the help and want to get back into society,” Jones said. “We’re blessed to have organizations like United Housing and the Lisieux Community in our midst, and Landmark Bank was honored to play a small role in connecting the dots and offering the financing that provided a stable home.” 

The home has a capacity for five women to participate in the two-year program. The Lisieux Community has made tremendous strides in helping women transition back into the workforce and community. For more information, visit www.lisieuxcommunity.org.

United Housing for Youth Video

With students heading back to class and Shelby County Schools' year kicking off next week, our UHI Intern, Teach for America Corps Member Lukas Alfen also returns to the classroom. He developed United Housing for Youth, a curriculum that features a set of exercises that instructors can access on youth financial literacy. 

Readers can learn more about the project here and watch the video for details.

Teachers and volunteer instructors, there are two ways to keep informed on using UHY. 

1. Check back on this blog for more details about how you can download the content, and use this material to share financial literacy with your pupils. 
2. Email aschaftlein@uhinc.org to join our newsletter mailing list, which will keep you up to date with instructions for accessing and use of the materials.