Participant Success Stories

Arrickia McNeil knows the importance of a good home

IDA participant Arrickia McNeil (second from left) poses at the Capitol Building in downtown Sacramento. Along with her grandmother and daughter, she celebrates her testimony in support of state IDA legislation. Also pictured are Pam Salsedo of Assets CAN! and Bob Friedman of the Corporation for Enterprise Decelopment (CFED). This profile appeared in the Spring 2001 edition of CFED's Assets newsletter, which is distributed nationwide to interested parties. See www.cfed.org.

Working with convicted teens at the California Youth Authority provides her a daily reminder of the social and economic obstacles facing low-income families. ItÕs a harsh reality that she first learned growing up in Oakland in what she describes as a "typical urban family." Seeing relatives get involved with drugs and crime while she spent time living in foster care strengthened Arrickia's resolve to provide a safe, loving home for her own family. So when she joined the DREAM program in December 1999, the 26-year-old single mother was committed to achieving her goal of owning a home.

DREAM, which stands for Developing Real Economic Assets Mutually, is VIDA's flagship IDA program. It provides participants a $2:$1 match of up to $800 in savings towards first-time homeownership, post-secondary education, or small business development.

When a friend told Arrickia about DREAM, she immediately knew the program was for her. "I was ecstatic about the training," Arrickia says of the six-workshop economic empowerment series participants must complete. A critical part of DREAM's success, the series covers a variety of topics that improve participants' understanding of the economy and assist in the savings process. "It was real good stuff," according to Arrickia, who says she regularly shares her knowledge with family and friends.

Arrickia, like all DREAM participants, also took part in training specific to her asset goal. The first-time homebuyer workshops she attended helped her learn more about locating, financing, and maintaining a house. This training, along with the DREAM workshops, also made Arrickia aware of the many assistance opportunities for homebuyers like herself. "I didn't realize how many programs were available," she says.

After completing this extensive training and saving about $50 every month, Arrickia was ready to make her dream a reality in October 2000. A homebuyer's assistance program she learned about through DREAM helped cover many of the closing costs. Her mortgage company waived their fee because of the willingness to save she had shown in DREAM. Arrickia used her savings and the match provided by DREAM to cover the rest of the costs.

Now, with her and daughter Jayriah comfortably settled into their Sacramento, California home, Arrickia continues contributing to the IDA field, this time as an advocate. On April 24, 2001 Arrickia testified in front of the State of California Assembly Committee on Human Services in support of a bill that would provide match and program funds to IDA programs throughout the state. She told members of the committee how from a troubled background she was able to become a homeowner, thanks in part to Mercy Housing California's DREAM. "This was my first time at the Capitol," Arrickia said shortly before delivering her testimony. Her first visit could not have come at a better time. California has lagged behind many states in their support of IDAs. Now, thanks to the advocacy efforts of people like Arrickia, the nation's largest state is closer to than ever to getting IDA legislation on the books.

Juan and Gloria Rodriguez

The Rodriguez family in front of their new home: Gloria, Juan, and their daughters (from left) Cynthia, Gloria, Jessica, and Mayra. Fifteen years after immigrating to California from Guanajuato, Mexico, Juan Rodriguez has achieved his goal of owning a home in the United States through his savings in the DREAM IDA program.

Juan worked in agricultural labor for a number of years before coming to Sacramento and beginning to work in construction. Just two years ago, he was able to get permission for his wife, Gloria, and four daughters to immigrate as well. They lived in Villa Jardin Apartments owned by the Sacramento Valley Organizing Community, where they first began saving for their home.

In August the Rodriguezes bought and moved into their 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom home in a tranquil south Sacramento neighborhood. Their new home is just a few miles away from Villa Jardin, so their girls were able to stay in the same schools and they remain close to family, friends and work.

Beaming with pride, Juan and Gloria Rodriguez recently gave VIDA staff a tour of their new home, which is 10 years old and in excellent condition. "We are really comfortable and happy here," Juan said. "The kids love it; they have more room. And we can do what we want, it's ours."

"The IDA program has been a great help for myself and my family," Juan said, "Without this program, it would have been more difficult for us to achieve our dream of owning our own home."

Because they got a good price on their home, the Rodriguezes already have equity in it. "The IDA contributed 75% of the downpayment of my house," Juan said. "I am very grateful to the program and the efficient people who work so this program exists." When asked if they would continue saving, Juan replied, "Of course! Now even more than before, because we have the responsibility of the house." What advice does he have for current IDA savers? "Keep at it and keep looking – ¡Sí se puede! – It can be done!"

When Lafaya Dosty joined DREAM, saving was already an old habit

Outside her apartment at Mercy Housing CaliforniaÕs Crossroad Gardens complex in south Sacramento, IDA participant Lafaya Dosty shows off her diploma from Sacramento State while son Robert illustrates his desire to save money for his own future education

"I was always cheap," says the 26-year old resident of Mercy Housing's Crossroad Gardens apartment complex in South Sacramento. This financial savvy led Lafaya to recognize the opportunity presented by DREAM. Without hesitation, she recalls what first piqued her interest in the program. "The idea of having the money that I saved doubled."

Lafaya was nearly finished with her degree in Psychology from Sacramento State and was preparing to attend graduate school when she enrolled in DREAM. Through a combination of scholarships, grants, and part-time jobs she had been able to patch together financing for her education. DREAM became one more piece of the puzzle for this incredibly resourceful mother and wife. "(In DREAM) you get paid for learning. You can't do any better than that."

Though her initial attraction was DREAM's $2:$1 match of her savings toward her graduate degree, Lafaya quickly grew to enjoy the economic empowerment workshops participants attend. "I appreciate how the program was created not just to give money, but to teach people how to manage their money," she says of the training. "I believe in empowering people." The workshop series, facilitated by Mercy Housing staff, brings participants together to discuss financial topics and share experiences. Lafaya says meeting with other motivated people helped motivate her to complete her education.

Since each person comes to DREAM with a different background and economic situation, the program allows participants to customize their savings plan. Lafaya saved the maximum every month and after completing the program's training requirements, she was using her savings to pay school expenses. As her collegiate career winds down, she will use the remainder of her DREAM savings to finish her education.

Lafaya's busy life leaves hardly any time to catch her breath. She is currently in her final months at National University and is on track to receive a Master's degree in Counseling Psychology in October 2001. She works part-time for Sutter Health and will soon begin a second job with a local non-profit. Her and husband Reymont have begun the homeownership process and plan on purchasing a place by the end of the year.

In the midst of all of this excitement, Lafaya's 9-year old son remains her pride and joy. Robert, who says he too is saving for a home of his own someday, has learned from his frugal mother the importance of being smart with money. He has become a bit of an entrepreneur, purchasing candy and selling it to neighborhood children, with all profits going into his savings.

Lafaya credits DREAM with helping her achieve so much. Since she joined the program her income has doubled. She has managed to stay out of debt despite the high cost of her Master's program. But like all DREAM participants, Lafaya's success is largely the product of hard work and commitment to her goals. As she says, "I take advantage of whatever experience I can get."

Aleksandra and Petr Zaychenko

Aleksandra Zaychenko sits in the minivan she and husband Petr bought for their childcare business with assistance from the Project SEED IDA program. From left to right, her charges are Anna (7), Irina (2), Angelica (4), Alex C. (5), Viola (18 months), Alex Z. (5), and Andrey (6). The group is getting ready to ride to the park.

In 1991, Petr Zaychenko's brother left their home in Kyrgyzstan for the United States, joining many other citizens of former Soviet republics who were seeking increased religious freedoms. Eight years later, Petr and his wife Aleksandra made the same move along with their 11 children; in their case, economics were the driving factor.

As the Zaychenkos' older children began to graduate from school, they found difficultly gaining entry into universities and/or finding stable employment. When Petr lost his job as a technician in the industrial refrigerator industry, he and Aleksandra decided that the opportunities they sought would be more plentiful in the United States.

Although Petr has found work in the United States, and the family was even able to purchase a home in south Sacramento, the Zaychenkos were still considered low income by the county due to their many dependents. This qualified the family for the WIC (Women, Infants and Children) program. One time when Aleksandra went to a WIC meeting at the Broadway Career Center building, organizers pulled in Natalia Roy of Asian Resources to translate for her from English to Russian. Aleksandra and Natalia bonded immediately, and that's when Aleksandra learned about Project SEED.

Project SEED is a microenterprise development program for low-income families and is sponsored by the Sacramento Federation of Program Operators, with outreach assistance from community-based organizations such as Asian Resources. Project SEED has an IDA component, and the Federation contracted in the year 2000 with Mercy Housing California to manage this aspect of the program.

With help from Project SEED business development consultant Maureen Harman and translation from Natalia, Aleksandra and Petr decided to develop a plan to launch a childcare business from their home, as childcare was already Aleksandra's primary occupation. Of their 11 children, five of them are under 10 years old. In the first year of operations, in-home child care providers may care for up to eight children including their own. The Zaychenkos have already begun to care for the three children of another Russian-speaking family, and they look forward to next year when they can apply for an expansion to their license to care for up to 12 children each day. The business, called Teremok Child Care, is intended to not only provide a safe, nurturing and stimulating environment for children, but also to help Russian immigrant children to adjust to their new surroundings while maintaining their cultural heritage and identity.

Through the Project SEED IDA program, the Zaychenkos saved $1,600 of their own earnings and received an equal amount of matching funds after completing the financial education requirement with the help of translator Enisa Basic. They used these funds to purchase an 8-passenger 1995 Plymouth minivan for their business. Petr uses the van to pick up the children that Aleksandra cares for at home in the mornings, and to drop them off in the evenings. This is a convenience for parents who are themselves rushing to get to and from work each day. The van will become even more useful next year when the Zaychenkos are able to care for more children.

Aleksandra says she looks forward to continuing to use the knowledge she gained from the financial education part of the IDA program as the business develops.

Hiawatha Husband

Hiawatha Husband has this advice for low-income individuals who have the dream of homeownership: "Persevere. Stay diligent about cleaning up your credit and sticking with the guidelines for managing your money. You, too, can be a homeowner." Hiawatha, a mother of three grown boys, and a grandmother too, speaks from experience. In May of 2006 she purchased a two-bedroom condominium in South Sacramento and joined the group of more than 150 other graduates of SMHA's IDA program who have successfully reached their savings goals and either purchased a home, started a business or pursued higher education.

The road to homeownership has been a long one for Hiawatha. Her IDA program was formed through a partnership with Sacramento Valley Organizing Committee and the Sacramento County Department of Human Assistance. In this program, Welfare to Work alumni could save towards homeownership and have their savings matched 3:1. Hiawatha enrolled in 2001 and learned to take advantage of the many resources available to her. She credits the lessons that she learned through the financial education workshops, Family Self Sufficiency training, and classes in homeownership with giving her the skills she needed to make her dream of homeownership a reality. She cleaned up her credit little by little over a period of three years and learned how to discipline herself in regard to finances so that she could make regular deposits into her IDA. The IDA program helped Hiawatha learn to be self-sufficient. Not only did she save for a home but she was also able to put her son through college.

When asked about her new home, Hiawatha says she likes that it is in a clean and well-kept community, she feels safe and secure there, but most of all she feels happy that she owns her home. "It feels like I grew up," Hiawatha says. "This is a new chapter of my life, a stepping stone." Hiawatha hopes that maybe someday she will be able to build her dream home and help put her grandchildren through college.