Categories: Chicago

Choose to Own helping Chicagoans to buy their own homes

It is the dream of every Chicagoans to own his/her own home. Niesha Chism is one of those Chicagoans who always dreamed to have their own home in Chicago. But she faced a lot of troubles in terms of finance. She did not even know when and how her dream would come true.

She joined a voucher program of the Chicago Housing Authority five years back and she got a home on rent. Government provided her some assistance to stay under a roof by paying some rent for it. Chism said, “I have a bachelor’s degree, I have done MBA, and I also have done my Master’s degree in Science and Finance but I still had to rely on such a program”. She added, “Even degrees and jobs are unable to move people, like me, away from such programs”.

A situation came when her financial condition pushed her towards the disqualification for a voucher. It was the time when ‘Choose to Own’ came to help her. Eugene Jones Jr., CEO of Choose to Own, said, “We developed this program a few years back in order to help the voucher holders to acquire their own home”.

The program has helped almost 600 people of Chicago to buy their own home. Chism is one of them who bought her house next to her childhood home. Niesha Chism’s father said, “I am quite proud of my daughter as she has her own home. I always told her to have her own things and get her own things in life”. In the current year, the program has already helped 30 people to get their own home and the count is on.

Niesha Chism said, “This house has a lot of sentimental values attached with me”. It is really a great thing and a great cause to help the voucher holders to acquire a home. It will help to end the generation renting and other housing issues from the society. There are hundreds of people who dreamed to have their own home like Niesha. This program will help them to watch their dream come true.

Shawn Genzone

Senior writer at the Chicago Morning Star

Recent Posts

Mercury Seek Defensive Fixes in Sun Rematch

The Phoenix Mercury will try to halt the WNBA’s longest active losing streak when they host the Connecticut Sun on…

19 hours ago

White Sox Rout Blue Jays 12-4 in Second-Half Opener

The Chicago White Sox began the second half of the season with a commanding 12-4 win over the Toronto Blue…

2 days ago

Wildfire Smoke Triggers Chicago Air Alert

Canadian wildfire smoke pushed air quality across the Chicago area into dangerous territory, prompting government warnings for residents to limit…

4 days ago

Illinois 53 Resurfacing Starts July 28

Resurfacing work on Illinois 53 in Joliet is scheduled to begin July 28, according to the Illinois Department of Transportation.…

6 days ago

CPS Cuts 162 Jobs Amid $732M Deficit

Chicago Public Schools has notified 162 central office and citywide employees that their positions are being eliminated as the district…

6 days ago

Chicago Urges Heat and Storm Preparedness

The Chicago Office of Emergency Management and Communications urged residents to prepare for extreme heat and possible severe weather impacts…

1 week ago

This website uses cookies.