An Interview with IDA Partner Sylvia Neely

What does the Housing Authority do for this community?

The Housing Authority of Winston-Salem’s (HAWS) mission is to create and maintain sustainable communities through partnership to benefit the residents of Winston-Salem. The vision of  HAWS is to create a self-sustaining affordable housing and real estate development organization.  The Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program is a subsidy assisted housing program that provides adequate, affordable, viable, quality housing, and community supportive services emphasizing self-sufficiency for low and moderate income families. 

What is your role with the organization?

My position at the Housing Authority of Winston-Salem is the Family Self-Sufficiency  (FSS) Coordinator.  My role is to coordinate resources and services for Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program families through the public and private sector to enable assisted families to achieve economic self-sufficiency.  The objective of the FSS Program is to reduce the dependency of low income families that are receiving public assistance such as welfare assistance, Section 8, or any other local rent or homeownership program.

The FSS Coordinator will try to provide the resources and services that are listed in the program family’s Individual Training and Service Plans by linking them to resources, services, and economic opportunities that will lead to employment, economic self-sufficiency and homeownership.  A Program Coordinating Committee is formed by the FSS Coordinator to obtain commitments from service providers who will perform the hand-on services to the FSS participating families.  The FSS Coordinator will monitor the progress of the participant’s plan, and establish an escrow account for them once they have obtained an increase in earned income while trying to complete all other goals listed in their Individual Training and Service Plan.   It is the FSS Coordinator’s responsibility to see that the family is paid the balance in the FSS escrow account upon successfully completing their Contract of Participation. 

Why did you become a part of the IDA Program?

Since 75% of the Section 8 FSS participants have a final goal of purchasing a home through the Section 8 HCV program or purchase homes on their own without Section 8 subsidy, HAWS has partnered with the New Century Individual Development Accounts Program to assistant in providing pre-post homeownership training, financial economics, and down payment assistance to our participants.  I highly recommend this program, even though it is optional for them to enroll in the IDA program.

How have you personally seen this program benefit people and the community?

I have personally seen the IDA Program benefit people and the community by providing a match of $3,000 or $2,000 to the client’s $1,000 saved out of pocket. It is required that the IDA clients save at least $1,500 in which it allows them to have some money left in reserve since most lenders require homeownership applicants to have money left in reserve, and they are not using all of their money for down payment.   Also, it benefits the low and moderate income community in purchasing a home, since most of them have a limited amount of income, and wouldn’t qualify on their own to purchase a home since they would have to come up with at least 3% - 5% in down payment assistance. The program also benefits clients in budgeting and credit repair.  The coaches, are beneficial in keeping clients on track of becoming mortgage ready.   If it wasn’t for the IDA program there will be less homeowners in the community.

The Housing Authority of Winston-Salem’s (HAWS) mission is to create and maintain sustainable communities through partnership to benefit the residents of Winston-Salem. The vision of  HAWS is to create a self-sustaining affordable housing and real estate development organization.  The Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program is a subsidy assisted housing program that provides adequate, affordable, viable, quality housing, and community supportive services emphasizing self-sufficiency for low and moderate income families. 

IDA Success Stories: Laura Bond

Unfortunately, I became disabled in 1995 at 35 years of age, and was forced to live in a housing assistant living apartment. After living there for seven years, I qualified for a Section 8 voucher and was so happy and thankful to get out of that apartment setting and get my own place again.

I never imagined being a home owner. I took the classes IDA offered, and welcomed the education. I learned I can be a homeowner. Although I was on a tight budget I learned ways to budget my money, pay off debt, save for a downpayment [for my home], and that there is home warrantee insurance available if things should break down. I am overwelmed with joy at the thought of having my own house. I couldn't be more proud and thankful for the program.

Sincere thanks for helping me take the steps to have such a blessed future.

Thanks again, Laura Bond

IDA Success Stories: M.M.

Had I been asked to write this success story two months, I would still have a lot to say, and a whole lot more time to say it. I didn’t have house then, but thanks to the IDA program I had already accomplished two things I thought I’d never.

The first was not spending money on things I didn’t need. For years the use of credit cards were my biggest temptation and downfall. The IDA program helped me distinguish between things I needed and things I wanted. Learning about interest rates on credit cards made me realize that the now broken VCR I charged 11 years ago actually cost me $600 dollars. The closet full of clothes I charged (now all too small) cost me four times the good bargain I thought I had found, and with all the money I charged for meals at fancy restaurants (that led to the clothes being too small), I could have almost bought my own restaurant! I was happy to cut the cards up.

Getting rid of them helped lead me to the second accomplishment – saving money. One of the main principles of the IDA program is saving money. And I was able to do it! Believe me, pre-IDA, no bank account of mine had ever seen a four digit balance for more that a couple of days!

That leads me to why I’m short on time today. When my savings account hit $1,000, Sue Simmons told me to start looking for a house. So I looked. And I looked. I looked at houses too small and at houses too big, houses with no closet space, houses with no counter spaces; ugly wallpapered walls, hideous carpeted floors. Until one day, my real estate agent drove me into a perfect driveway that led to a perfect house! I asked her to write the contract to make a bid on it right away.

In a blur, my loan was secured, the house was inspected, and the lawyer was contacted. And at closing, there sat Sue Simmons, along with Mr. Stewart from ESR, providing support and encouragement to the very end, not to mention the checks they passed to the lawyer on my behalf! It was all so simple, and I am so very thankful.

Today, I’m in my home with a garage full of junk waiting to be put away. And every night, I get down on my knees to thank God for that garage and the house to which it is attached, for my family and for the IDA program.