SMCAA Programs: Supportive Housing to Homebuyer Education to Weatherization
Mr. S was homeless when he was approved for the Supportive Housing Program which would pay for a portion of the rent on a potential home. After 6 years in SHP and receiving case management, Mr. S was informed by his landlord that she would be selling his rental house because she was moving out of the area.
When Mr. S met with his SMCAA caseworker he discovered he no longer qualified for the program due to a household income increase. Given this fortunate situation, Mr. S stated he would like to purchase his rental home from his landlord. His caseworker referred him to another SMCAA program, Homebuyer Education, which provides homeownership counseling. Mr. S enrolled in the workshop where he not only learned the ins-and-outs of buying a home but also about other SMCAA programs and services.
Two months after Mr. S completed the Homebuyer Education workshop he purchased his home -- and the mortgage payment was $200 a month less than what he had been paying for rent! Within six months of being a homeowner, Mr. S returned to SMCAA to apply for Weatherization services, which he had learned about through his counseling workshop. His application was accepted through WAP and his home has since been weatherized and helped to decrease his utility usage and utility bills cost.