Hello all, a few months ago I started writing a blog article series about what is going on with the IDA and Asset Building Collaborative of North Carolina, and how AmeriCorps VISTA members were supporting several IDA programs throughout the state.
As you recall, the interviews were with:
Donna Gallagher, the Executive Director of the IDA andAsset Building North Carolina - AmeriCorps
VISTA Leader Zarak Khan. He talked about his role within the Collaborative, and how he supports the VISTAs with their assignments. - Marlissa Cunningham, Community Link of Charlotte, N.C.
VISTA, and project organizer extraordinaire.
And our dearly departed (they moved on from VISTA to other projects):
- Blake Lucas, who came into Kingdom Community Development Corporation with a plethora of knowledge from his experiences as a Housing Counselor, and nonprofit guru.
- Trevor Hudspeth, who helped forge bonds between Durham Regional Finance and community organizations.
I came to the realization the other day that even though I posted these interviews a few months ago, I never got around to my own interview! I have been busy supporting this amazing organization that helps people with low and moderate income buy homes for the first time. But they don’t just buy homes, they empower themselves through financial education, success coaching, financial literacy classes, and step by step guidance throughout the home buying process.
So, here you are with the latest blog posting in the IDA and Asset Building Collaborative of N.C. interview series.
New Century IDA VISTA, Andriana Bicanin, placed at the Forsyth County Department of Housing
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| 1st grade picture day. I realize I am kind of cheating with the picture thing (other interviewees have recent pics), but seriously, this may just be the best picture ever. |
As you may have noticed, I (Andriana Bicanin) am the main blogger for the New Century IDA blog. As part of my assignment with AmeriCorps VISTA, I developed a web presence for this most amazing organization, the New Century IDA, through:
And the blog you are currently reading J
I also created a few other outreach tools:
E-newsletter (click here to email me and get on our mailing list!).
This goes out to community partners, elected officials, IDA programs, philanthropists, realtors, and anyone who would like a look into the New Century IDA, through the facts and figures perspective (report like setting).
Mailed newsletter (click here to email me and get on our mailing list!).
This is a paper newsletter that goes out to alumni, current clients, working group members, and partners.
I also recruited my very talented friend, Brent Alexander, to design the logo you see on all of the outreach tools. (The house with hands holding it). And also recruited Chris Zaluski to edit our videos.
My service with AmeriCorps VISTA :
I first became a VISTA right before I was about to graduate from college. I decided to take a break from school and figure out what I wanted to do with life. It was then that I moved to western Washington
What drew me to this organization was their mission, and the way in which they help people break out of poverty. Education, outreach, empowerment, and helping working people maintain their dignity while also receiving support and assistance are what makes this, and any organization strong. Every individual deserves the right to build wealth, have stability in their home, and create a strong future for themselves and their families, regardless of their economic background.
I knew nothing of IDA programs before entering this program. All I knew was that they sounded really awesome. With my 6+ months of service which thus far consisted of interviews with current clients, creating outreach videos, attending working group meetings, statewide forums, speaking to members at other IDA sites, speaking to IDA programs nationwide, and immersing myself in this type of nonprofit work, I have seen firsthand the impact asset building and IDA programs have on the quality of life for working members of society.
This really is the greatest form of helping empower and lift people out of poverty, and a whole new way of welfare reform. One of my favorite quotes (ever) comes from a Center for Social Development Research Report:
“Each person, regardless of economic circumstance, deserves to be treated with dignity and respect at all times.”
This is what IDA programs in the state of N.C. and nationwide do- they treat their clients with the dignity and respect they deserve.
The most moving of my experiences so far has been the interviews with current clients. Married couple, and parents of four children, Gary and Terri, as well as James, a man who has gone from homelessness to rebuilding his life and taking prodcutive steps towards buying a home, have all agreed to allow me to interview them through this very personal journey towards homeownership.
Lisa Wright of Fairway Independent Mortgage sat down with me once and shared her stories with the New Century IDA. Her favorite clients are the ones who go through this program. She says they are all ready when they sit down with her and look at loans, and they are so eager to buy their homes and start a new life for themselves and their children. These clients, she said, are always the most organized, and always have all their paperwork ready. The financial literacy classes, success coaching, and support from all of the staff and working group members truly equip the clients with the tools needed in order to succeed.
A few facts:
There are currently seven VISTAs working at different IDA and economic development sites throughout the state of North Carolina
These sites are:
- New Century IDA, at the Experiment in Self Reliance, in Winston
Salem - New Century IDA, at the Forsyth County Department of Housing, in Winston
Salem - Community Link of
Charlotte ,N.C. - Eagle Market Street Development Corporation, in
Asheville N.C. - Gaston Community Action, in
Gaston ,N.C. - Choanoke Area Development Association (CADA), in
Rich Square N.C. - Prosperity Unlimited,
Kannapolis ,N.C.
So far, these N.C. VISTA members have accomplished:
Community Outreach Presentations conducted: 30
Volunteers recruited: 80
Service Hours performed by Community Volunteers: 667
Cash resources applied for by VISTA members: $301,600
Non-cash resources applied for by VISTA members: $151,600
Non-cash resources developed by VISTA members: $7,635
Amount invested by partner organizations: $114,077
Partnerships created: 25
Community partner meetings convened: 26
A little background on the New Century IDA (if you haven’t read previous posts).
The New Century IDA is an Individual Development Account program, in Forsyth County North Carolina, that helps working members of our community throughout the home buying process. New Century IDA targets are first time home owners, and those who have not purchased a home in three years. A person does NOT have to currently reside in Forsyth County to participate in the program, but they DO have to plan on purchasing their home in Forsyth County
Individual Development Accounts are matched savings accounts. The accounts are held with Southern Community Bank.
After successful completion of financial literacy classes, meetings with Success Coaches, and after the client has saved their own $1500 in their accounts, their money is either matched 2:1, or up to 6:1. That means, for every $1 a client saved, either $2, $3, $4, $5, or $6 is put into the account. And remember, the client eventually saves $1500 that is going to be matched! This money is not “just given” to the client. The money is given towards the down payment of their home, and they have worked very hard towards this pursuit. The New Century IDA does not hold their hand and give them anything. The New Century educates and supports savers and they work, attend classes, and empower themselves.
So how does someone become a part of a program that helps low and moderate income people save money, and buy a first time home? Well, go to our webpage for that information J
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