2023 Chicago Housing Authority (CHA) Impact Report - Report - Page 33
SPOTLIGHT
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Participants have assumed their own mortgage and graduated
off of CHA subsidy since the inception of CTO.
Samantha Stokes
Former Housing Choice Voucher holder Samantha Stokes
grew up one of four children living under the roof of
hard-working parents. Ends didn’t always meet, and she
remembers being evicted as a child – something she
vowed never to experience as an adult. With the assistance
of CHA’s new Down Payment Assistance program, Stokes
was the first CHA resident to close on her new home.
1,300
Families attended homeownership workshops and events
including CHA’s inaugural Homeowner Fair at BMO Towers
where participants received valuable advice on home
maintenance, financial capability, estate planning and more.
Stokes praised the program, saying “I’m a little more than
low-income, and there aren’t a lot of resources out there
for this group of people. We don’t qualify for certain
benefits, but we do need some assistance. That’s where
the DPA comes in handy. You just need that little bit of
push and assistance that will help you get to where you
want to be in life.”
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