Housing Counseling Client Spotlight - Claire Hawkins

Wednesday, May 9, 2018

Claire Hawkins has been participating in YNDC’s FREE, HUD-Approved Housing Counseling program since 2014 and recently purchased her first home.

“It’s everything I wanted in a house,” said Claire. She moved to the area from Alabama and saw an ad for the Housing Counseling program on Facebook after renting homes in Youngstown for a few months. “I didn’t know anything about credit or how to get a credit card, so I started taking the classes.” She said once she had a credit card and was able to start building credit, she was able to make progress toward her goal of homeownership. “The program is amazing, it’s a blessing. In Alabama we didn’t have anything like this.” She said one of her biggest motivations to purchase her own home was to have something to leave behind for her children. “No matter what happens to me now, they’ll always have a place to call home.” Her advice to new homeowners is to seek out educational resources like YNDC’s HUD-Approved Housing Counseling program because the information can be valuable and empowering. Congratulations on your new home, Claire!