Melissa’s next goal was to own her own home. At 22, she attended the First Time Homebuyers’ classes at Worcester Community Housing Resources and learned about the home buying process. She was determined to own a multifamily home by the time she was 25. With rental income, she was confident she could pay the mortgage. While in Shrewsbury, Melissa enrolled in the Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) program at the housing authority. Staff encouraged her to establish and work toward financial independence and homeownership. When her income increased, the housing authority, through the FSS, matched the funds and put it into an escrow account. As her savings and escrow account grew, Melissa set a new career goal.

As soon as Melissa heard about the Individual Development Account (IDA) program at the Worcester Community Action Council, she was eager to enroll, but had to wait for openings in the program. Meanwhile, she continued to work on her short-term goal to lower her debt to income ratio—which is one of the more challenging components of the asset-building program. She maintained regular contact with Worcester’s Neighbor Works Homeonwnership Center and entered the lottery at Worcester Common Grounds for three-family homes, but she was not selected. Instead of giving up her homeownership dream, she continued to save toward her goal.

In March, 2006, she enrolled in WCAC’s IDA program and attended six weeks of financial literacy. She attended the monthly meetings that featured guest speakers from banks, attorneys, and other financial institutions. In April, she opened an IDA escrow account, and in June, entered the East Side Community Development Corporation lottery. Her name was pulled from the drawing for property on East Central Street, and she closed on her two-family home in November 2006. The following month, she began work at the Worcester Housing Authority as the new Family Self-Sufficiency Program Coordinator. “I was very excited because my dreams and all the things I had worked so hard for were finally becoming a reality,” Melissa said. “I am fortunate to help families like my own achieve self-sufficiency, independence, and homeownership. I am very grateful for all the help that I received along the way and am happy with my home, career, and family and hope that my daughters can learn from me and be proud.” Her next goal is to work on her Master’s Degree. Melissa turned 28 years old in November and is the mother of two daughters—Kassandra, 13 years old, and Nayrobi, who is 3.