Contact: Peggy Lustig,
htofruraleasttexas@yahoo.com Email

Two Initiative Directors of C10 Certified by State to Provide Homebuyers’ Education
Dianna Claiborne, C10 VISTA of RCBI, and Peggy Lustig, regional literacy director of Gateway to American Opportunities, attended the “Training the Trainer” for Texas Statewide Homebuyer Education Program, presented by Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA) in Austin on May 2nd-6th. The training, Realizing the American Dream, was presented by NeighborWorks (Center for Homeownership Education and Counseling). The trainers were Christie Baker (3rd editor of the curriculum) and JoAnn DePenning (of J DePenning Consulting, formerly of TDHCA).

Thirty-three individuals representing a variety of Texas organizations attended the five-day, fast-paced course. The sessions taught included “Are you Ready to Buy a Home?,” “Managing Your Money,” “Understanding Your Credit” and others. The training concluded with an exam on Friday. Those obtaining an 80% or higher will be listed on the TDHCA web site as Texas Statewide Homebuyer Education Program-certified providers.

Guest speakers included Maria Brewster, of Fannie Mae Foundation, and D’Ann Johnson of Texas C-Bar and Otis Larry of Texas Home of Your Own Coalition.

For more information about the Homebuyers Education or the regional initiatives of
A Circle of Ten, Inc. please contact Ms Claiborne or Ms. Lustig at 903 541 0013 or Email circleof10@circleof10.org

Contact: Mike Doyle, Cornerstone Assistance Network, mdoyle@canetwork.org

Community Partners Build Hope
Since 1992, homeless families in and around Fort Worth have had an advocate in their corner. Cornerstone Assistance Network provides transitional housing; case management; short- and long-term goal setting; financial counseling; employment training; job placement; educational expansion; as well as mentoring for the entire family. These services cover the two-year period that housing is provided.

After two years, the family has the option of staying in the same apartment, if available, or moving into other housing. Cornerstone’s goal is to make homeownership possible in a location and design of the family’s own choosing.

Cornerstone now has that opportunity. In partnership with The Birdville Independent School District Career and Technology Education Program, Tarrant County Community Development Corporation, Haltom City, Alamo Homes, Tarrant County Government and many other community-minded organizations, this dream has become a reality. The home was built by the students in the construction trades classes in The Career and Technology Program in conjunction with sub-contractors, mentors and Alamo Homes. They built a 3-bedroom, 2-bath brick home at 5717 Madge Place in Haltom City. The construction was completed in May of 2005.

A single mom and her daughter moved into their first home in May. She is paying less in mortgage payment, taxes and insurance than she was in a two bedroom apartment. The home was built for under $50.00 a square foot and included such extras as a geo-thermal heat and air conditioning system. This system will save her as much as 40% in utility costs. Also included is special wiring throughout that will allow for high speed internet and phone service in every plug and plugs under the eves of the house where she can string Christmas lights without using an extension cord. And best of all, it is an area of town that she chooses to live in not one that she can because the houses are inexpensive.

Mike Doyle, Executive Director of Cornerstone Assistance Network, remarked at the ribbon cutting ceremony that he felt so proud when he heard several of the students who built the home telling ribbon cutting guests about the things that they had built in different areas of the home. One young man told a lady that he had framed this wall and that he had pulled all the wire, a special kind of wire, to the living area. It is so gratifying to see these young boys and girls taking pride in a tremendous accomplishment. There was a special bond developed between the students and the family that moved in. What a Blessing it was to see and experience. We hope it will be the first of many. Another home is planned for the students that will start back to school in September 2005.