“It’s a Big Deal”

Yvonne Jones never stopped trying to find a place where she could feel secure and at home, even when the doors kept closing. Finding a place to rent became a constant source of stress and heartbreak. Renting an apartment shouldn’t feel impossible, Yvonne thought, even though it often did. Time after time, she was turned away, often without clear expectations or reasons. “I was dealing with discrimination from complexes,” she says. “They would wrongfully deny me, and it was hard.” 

Each rejection took an emotional toll, leaving her discouraged and questioning whether stable housing was even possible. It was then Yvonne decided to call ICCF Community Homes, following a referral she’d received from the Grand Rapids Housing Commission several years prior. This time, however, she came back more determined than ever. ICCF paired her with a housing counselor, and together they took practical steps toward something she’d long thought out of reach: a home of her own. 

The road to homeownership is rarely straightforward, but ICCF walked beside Yvonne the entire way. Staff helped clarify the process, introduced her to trusted realtors and lenders, and connected her with a variety of partner organizations that provide down-payment assistance. “Every part was vital,” she says, “I honestly believe ICCF counseling is necessary for anybody who wants to buy a home.”

Yvonne left each meeting a little more energized and confident. With her ICCF counselor, Yvonne better navigated the obstacles that often trip up first-time buyers. “People can get you in so many ways: overcharging or pushing you into something you can’t actually afford,” she says. “So I took things slow, and checked every decision with ICCF first. Everything just seemed to fall into place.”

Even as the pieces fell into place, Yvonne kept her guard up, wary from so many previous setbacks. “I didn’t believe it was real until I had the keys,” she says. The day she closed, reality sunk in, and “It was awesome!”

Keys in hand, Yvonne felt the immense impact of this realization: “I’m a first-generation homeowner.” Life looks different now. “I feel secure. I’m not paying those high apartment rents anymore. The mortgage is lower, and every payment builds equity.”

“And,” she adds with a smile, “I can do what I want here! Paint, hang pictures, start a garden.”

News gets around, of course. “A lot of people say, ‘For real?’” Yvonne says. “But when they see me in the new house, they know it can be done.” Best of all, Yvonne started her daughter on a mission to build her credit, so ‘first-generation homeowner’ can become second-generation, and beyond.

When friends and family ask how she did it, she gives the same answer: “Go through ICCF. I’m the type of person who’s going to tell everyone. I’ve become an ICCF evangelist.” While Yvonne gladly sings ICCF’s praises, she’s always clear to add: “God is so good. He brought it all together.”

When she thinks about what those keys represent – stability, equity, and a clear sign of God’s care – she returns to that profound realization: first-generation homeowner. “It’s a big deal,” she says gleefully!