Announcement
Elizabeth is 27 years old. A former refugee from Uganda, she is the legal guardian of her three younger siblings. Elizabeth is also a new homeowner. Owning a home gives her a sense of security because in the past she moved abruptly and sometimes did not known where she and her three younger siblings were going to stay at night. The International Rescue Committee (IRC) in Salt Lake City’s down payment assistance program helped Elizabeth purchase her first home in the U.S. in 2019.
Angelina, a refugee from Sudan, finds that she has sense of pride in her new community where she can trust her neighbors and watch her children play outside.
Photo: Brady Adams/IRC
Elizabeth loves that she can call her new townhouse "home." She has some private patio space where a small garden grows filled with vegetables that remind her of Uganda. Having this small green space filled with familiar vegetables that she cannot find is stores has had a huge impact on her mental wellbeing. Plus, Elizabeth has enjoyed the opportunity to teach her siblings about the garden and about the vegetables that remind her of where their family is from. As a refugee, Elizabeth did not think that she would be able to own a home at this point in her life, and she emphasized that her dream becoming a reality was empowering.
Angelina is 37 years old. A former refugee from Sudan, she is a single mother of seven children. Like Elizabeth, she also recently became a homeowner. When she was renting, Angelina felt like she was throwing money away every time rent came due, especially when landlords didn't prioritize repairs or maintenance. Now that she is a homeowner, Angelina has plans for the future of her home.
“While I was talking with [Angelina] about her experience as a homeowner,” said Brady Adams, the asset-building specialist at the IRC in Salt Lake City. “A representative from a solar power company arrived at their appointment to talk with Angelina because she was thinking about having solar panels installed in order to save money on electricity. It was exciting to see her looking for more ways to improve her home.”
As a homeowner, Angelina feels empowered and in control when she thinks about home maintenance. If something is broken, she knows she can figure out how to fix it or how to have it get fixed. She gets to decide the condition of her own home.
Angelina and Elizabeth’s stories converge on the down payment assistance program. Elizabeth said that the home buying class series helped her feel prepared, by explaining fees and loan options. Brady also pointed out that “there is strong economic evidence that shows that the younger a person is when they achieve homeownership the great their financial stability will be throughout their lives.”
Angelina and Elizabeth find security in homeownership. Angelina said that homeownership has made her feel free and good about her future. Elizabeth can rest assured that her siblings are receiving the best developmental care in their new school districts.
Refugees are taking the next step to built their future in the United States and you can be a part of their journey. Learn how you can support refugees on their journey from striving to thriving by visiting Rescue.org/SupportSLC.