by Diana Pando
On Saturday, July 26, The Resurrection Project (TRP) hosted its annual housing fair, “Housing Within Reach,” at the Cicero Community Center. Many individuals and families came to the event looking for information on how to purchase their first home. The goal of the event was to educate attendees on the home purchase process, and to help struggling homeowners keep their homes.
“One of the obstacles people face when they want to purchase a home is knowing where to start,” said Denise Reyes, TRP’s Home Purchase Manager. “The counselors at TRP help you navigate the steps to home ownership.”
As people walked in they were greeted by TRP staff who encouraged them to have their paperwork ready for review by real estate agents and lenders. Throughout the day, attendees also had access to free workshops on the loan pre-approval process and down payment assistance programs.
Attendees who were on the brink of losing their homes also received foreclosure prevention assistance. According to a recent article in the Chicago Tribune, “foreclosures are still on the rise in Chicago.” Foreclosure prevention education was important at this event because it gave people the opportunity to find solutions to keep their homes.
Second Federal Credit Union, Chase Bank, Standard Bank, US Bank, The PrivateBank, First Midwest, and Citibank participated in hosting booths where they were able to meet with families and answer any questions they might have about the home purchase process and financial products.
The Financial Wellness Department at TRP works year-round to provide free financial literacy education to help people achieve their financial goals including home ownership. The goal of the workshops is cultivating long-term financial stability in our communities.

Upcoming home purchasing workshop series to be held on Sept. 6th.

Return to Nueva Vida August 2014 here.