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Home Ownership Forum

 

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The Path to Home Ownership

The first informational forum was held on July 20, 2007 in Kalamazoo, Michigan. The topic was home ownership for people with disabilities.

participants watching a presenation in an auditorium

Presenters and Activities

During the morning session, participants listened to several presentations regarding programs for assistance in home ownership.  Topics and presenters included:

  • Individual Development Accounts – Carla James
  • Predatory Lending – Carolyn Gardner
  • Mortgage Companies – Lisa Cook
  • Housing Choice (Section 8) Vouchers – Lisa Dove
  • Family Self-Sufficiency/Key to Own – Lisa Dove
  • Pooled Trusts/Special Needs Trusts – Caroline Dellenbusch
  • Home Ownership Coalition – Daryl Domke
  • Down Payment Assistance and Other MSDHA Loans and Products – Nancy Baker
  • Habitat for Humanity – Don Jones
  • Wrap Up Session – Nelson Grit

The afternoon session focused on advocacy around home ownership.  Participants learned about Fair Housing, Michigan’s Housing and Community Development Fund, and Housing Advocacy groups.  Participants also were given the opportunity to sign up for GetActive and sent letters to their legislators regarding additional funding for the Housing and Community Development Fund.

Throughout the day, participants were able to visit resource tables to gain information about home ownership and talk with organizational representatives one-on-one about their personal home ownership questions.  Organizations represented at the resource fair included:

  • Michigan State Housing Development Authority
  • Option 1 Credit Union
  • Housing Resources Incorporated
  • Neighborhoods Incorporated
  • National City Bank
  • Caroline Dellenbusch, PLC.
  • Fair Housing Center of Southwest Michigan
  • Habitat for Humanity

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Statistics

Attendance

  • 21 people attended (not including speakers and exhibitors)
    • Of those, 11 were people with disabilities and 10 were professionals
  • 11 speakers attended
  • 12 exhibitors attended
  • 3 MDRC staff attended

Advocacy

  • 7 people registered with GetActive
  • 7 people sent letters to their legislators via GetActive
  • 3 people sent letters to their legislators via snail mail
  • 5 people signed up to be part of the Housing Advocacy Team and Disability Resource Center in Kalamazoo
  • 4 people signed up because they are interested in being part of a housing advocacy effort in Allegan county

CCL Collaboration

  • 3 people registered to become members of Connections for Community Leadership
  • 4 people subscribed to the Connections for Community Leadership newsletter

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Evaluations

How much did you learn about home ownership?

  • 100% of respondents said “much” or “a lot.”

How likely are you to use the information you received today?

  • 100% of the respondents said “very likely” or “definitely.”

Do you feel like you have the knowledge base to talk to policy makers about home ownership?

  • 66% of respondents said “yes."
  • 34% of respondents said “maybe.”

What did you like best about today?

  • “Handouts of slideshow segments”
  • “Fair housing and different funding for home ownership”
  • “The information I received”
  • “The presentation on special needs trusts”
  • “The variety of information presented”
  • “That it was held at a community location and not a human service agency building”
  • “The exhibitor tables”

What did you like least about today?

  • “Too many acronyms”
  • “Fast pace”
  • “Long – some repeat”
  • “No comments”

Do you plan on taking action around home ownership?  If so, what will you do to take action?

  • “I would much rather own than rent.  I want to buy.”
  • “In my job, I will be supporting individuals with disabilities learn more about if they wish to pursue home ownership.” 
  • “Attempt to stay informed on home ownership issues and supports available.”
  • “This is for my son and I feel I learned a great deal.”
  • “Yes, I will be changing my budget to figure out for payment.”
  • “Contact some places here with community links.”
  • “Absolutely.  I picked up some forms that will help me prepare for the process.”

How can we improve today’s activities?

  • “More time for each presenter”
  • “Maybe not so much information”
  • “More time to talk informally”
  • “More time for question/answer”
  • “Find a place closer to a bus stop”
  • “Try to eliminate repeat information”
  • “Scale down the number of presentations”

Overall, how would you rate your satisfaction with this seminar?

  • 100% of the respondents were “satisfied” or “very satisfied.”

Additional comments or suggestions.

  • “Lunch was good”
  • “More forums on this across the state”
  • “I appreciate how much effort people spent to make this run so smoothly”

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