Homeownership Day Impacts Two Families
New Partnership Announced Between Wiregrass Habitat For Humanity and Dothan Housing
Dothan, Ala. Wednesday, August 16, 2023- Dothan Housing (DH) and Wiregrass Habitat for Humanity (Habitat) surprised two unexpecting families with the gift of homeownership! Each family was selected to receive a 4-bedroom 2, bath home through Habitat’s stringent homeownership application process.
Both families participated in Dothan Housing’s Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) program, directed by Resident Services Manager Samiyah Craddock. The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) defines the FSS program as a tool for the development of local strategies to coordinate public and private resources that help Housing Choice Voucher(HCV) Program participants, public housing tenants, and tenants in the Section 8 Project-Based Rental Assistance (PBRA) program obtain employment that will enable participating families to achieve economic independence and reduce dependence on welfare assistance and rental subsidies.
The free program, open to all Dothan Housing residents and clients, requires participants to set and reach their goals and fulfill their local program requirements. With conditions similar to Habitat’s, the opportunity to apply for their homeownership program. That commitment inspired Linda Ward, Habitat Homeowner Services Director, to see a potential collaboration.
In a room full of excitement, cheers, gold, green, and blue pom poms, as well as confetti, two FSS program graduates, Monica Jackson, and Ashley Griffin, received news that their applications were accepted and that they met the requirements for the homeownership program offered by Habitat. The life-changing moment was commemorated with a critical presentation and words of encouragement from both DH and Habitat.
Dr. Tamara Berry-Andrews enthusiastically announced the new partnership between both entities would allow, on a biannual basis, two FSS participants to be selected for homeownership through Wiregrass Habitat for Humanity. This historic partnership under the administrations of Donna Clemmons, Habitat Executive Director, and Samuel P. Crawford, DH CEO, is an exciting opportunity for both entities to help meet the housing needs of the Wiregrass Metropolitan area together through homeownership.
Both awarded homes are scheduled to be completed by Spring 2024, with one possibly being ready by December of this year, according to the five phases described by DH Director of Compliance LaDonice Freeney. For more information on our avenues for homeownership, please email Leah Gunn, Communications Coordinator, at lgunn@dothanhousing.org.
