In Pursuit of Knowledge

The Perfect Plan

Jessica Katt always knew she would graduate from college.

She graduated August 2004 from Arizona State University with a B.S. in Social Work. She loves to learn. If she doesn't get an "A," she shyly states, "it bothers me."

But becoming a homeowner was a different story!

Katt convinced herself that it would not be another five to ten years before she could ever own her own home. It was not until last August that the seed of knowledge was planted, motivating her to go seek out what it would take to buy a home. Five months later, February 2005, she was unpacking boxes in her newly built NHS Phoenix home.

The story began when Jessica asked a fellow student, Damon Jeffrey, what he was doing after graduation. Damon had been working at an affordable housing nonprofit, NHS Phoenix. He showed her a floor plan (at right) of a Garfield neighborhood house he was building. Katt immediately fell in love with the floor plan, her perfect plan. She knew she wanted to live close to downtown Phoenix with all of the art activity; and, she loved the style of houses in the area.

Damon referred her to an NHS Phoenix counselor and she immediately enrolled in HomeBuyer Education classes. Her credit was good. Jessica says, "like getting an 'A' in her studies," if she doesn't pay her bills, "I probably wouldn't be able to sleep nights." She knew she was in line for a promotion to become Case Manager at Child Protective Services. Once that happened, she was turned over to NHS Phoenix loan area to find the right loan package to make that "special" floor plan hers. Her loan package included grants and down payment assistance.

While her loan package was being put together, Jessica enrolled in NHS Phoenix' Financial Fitness classes. Finding both the HomeBuyer Education and the Financial Fitness classes' curricula invaluable, she consistently mentors others to head in the direction of NHS Phoenix. She cautions them how important it is "just to become educated" because "there is a lot more that goes along with buying a house."

As a self-motivator, Jessica's next goal is to get a Masters Degree in Public Administration. She wants to work in the nonprofit world and "empower others to make changes in their lives for the better."

We, at NHS Phoenix, give Jessica Katt an "A" on her homebuyer report card! We know our community's future is better just having Jessica Katt in it.

From the Annual Report issue of DoorWays, March 2005
Written by R.A.Lenio