Blazing the Trail to Homeownership

Sylvia Abron never considered herself a pioneer. This unassuming mother of two, who works as a custodian for the Monroe City Schools, leads a fairly routine life. All of that changed recently when she became the first Monroe Housing Authority resident to use her Section 8 voucher to achieve her dream of homeownership. Almost overnight, she became famous among the ranks of the housing authority residents.

Sylvia Abron is all smiles as she shows her new home to Cloteel Edwards of the Monroe Housing Authority.

From the time Sylvia attended homebuyer-training classes in 2004, she was determined to become a homeowner. After completing the training classes and learning that she had a few credit issues to resolve, she worked with a credit counselor and cleaned up her credit report.

She then asked about the Monroe Housing Authority’s Section 8 Homeownership Program. Housing Authority staff explained that this program allows Section 8 rental assistance to be used toward a house payment rather than rent for those who qualify. This was just the boost Sylvia needed to be approved for her home loan. “With this program, we want to be able to provide the next step to our renters, and that is to own homes,” said Cheryl Farmer, Assistant Coordinator of the homeownership program.

Sylvia and her children in their new home.

With loan approval in hand, Sylvia then worked with Monroe Homeownership, Inc., a non-profit arm of the Monroe Housing Authority. The non-profit built a new three- bedroom, two-bath home for Sylvia and her children. “I’m very excited,” said Abron after being presented the keys to her new home on Hickory Street in Monroe.” I can’t wait to move in.”

Sylvia began her journey to homeownership by educating herself about the homeownership process and programs available in her community. She then followed the guidance and direction

Monroe Homeownership, Inc., a non-profit arm of the Monroe Housing Authority, built the new home.

of the credit counselors and Monroe Housing Authority staff to ready herself for loan approval. And the rest, as they say, is history.

Sylvia will always be remembered as the first Monroe Housing Authority resident to convert a Section 8 voucher into the American Dream. And like other pioneers, she blazed a new trail, discovered new territory, and prepared the way for others to follow.