Success Story


<< Return to Success Stories


There's No Place Like Home
One family finds stability in homeownership.

When Jesse and Susan Gonzales rented their home in December of 1992, it was their intention to own the home someday. This was not just a fantasy, but a realistic goal made possible by the Lease Purchase program offered by Neighborhood Housing Services of Phoenix. While Susan had spent much of her life moving from place to place, Jesse had grown up living in one house, one neighborhood. He had a strong desire to provide this same sense of community and stability for his wife and four young kids. He was the one who insisted they check out NHS Phoenix's Lease Purchase program - and the rest is history.

"The staff at NHS Phoenix has worked with us every step of the way," says Susan reflecting back on the nearly 10-year relationship with NHSP. "They support you a lot. We've been through some really difficult times and NHS Phoenix has always been there to help."

In 1989, NHS Phoenix received a Community Development Block Grant from the City of Phoenix to create a rent-to-own program; by 1992, they had rehabbed nine homes as part of the program. The Gonzales family rented one of these homes and $100 of their monthly rent began to accrue towards the future down payment. As a requirement of the program, Susan and Jesse attended HomeBuyers classes for a year and a half. There they learned about the many responsibilities of homeownership and worked toward clearing their credit, all the time making regular monthly payments to prove their credit worthiness. In August 1995, they were ready and able to purchase the home they had grown to love.

But then times got tough. Caring for aging parents and paying for their son's participation in regional boxing competitions began to eat into their finances. They started to fall behind on their mortgage payments. In June of 1998, they were forced to declare bankruptcy. "NHS Phoenix supported us through this entire ordeal as well," says Susan. "They knew we did not want to lose our house and worked with our lenders so that we didn't. We were several months behind on our payments and finally managed to catch up thanks to NHS Phoenix's intervention and understanding. They're great people."

And, the support did not end there. NHS Phoenix is currently working with Susan and Jesse to secure a home improvement loan. Their house, built in 1916, needs updating and refurbishing in order to reflect its historic glory. NHS Phoenix is currently researching options for possible home-equity loans. "If the loan is approved, we plan to add a carport, a block fence, new carpeting and central air-conditioning," says Susan hopefully. "I'd love to finish the wood floors if possible, too."

In the meantime, the Gonzales family has enjoyed the "there's no place like home" stability Jesse had dreamed of. And no one appreciates it more than Susan.