Responding to Community Housing Needs


Homeownership Success Stories

Foreclosure Prevention Success Stories

"I think NCALL’s services are great!"

When Kenneth and Kathy purchased their Lincoln, Delaware home in 2000, their mortgage was an adjustable rate that began at 9.75%. They planned on refinancing in two years to avoid the rising interest rate, but were unable to do so due to poor credit history. They kept up with their mortgage until last year; the payments just got to be too much.

Kathy works in accounting and Kenneth has his own lawn care business. Several seasons of unagreeable weather lowered their household income. Kenneth looked for alternative employment with no luck.

They decided to put their home up for sale. In the six months it was on the market, they had no interested buyers. The poor economy was really hurting their already desperate situation. The bank was sending foreclosure intent notices and the couple was distraught.

“I cried for months,” said Kathy. “Losing this house would have torn me apart. I would really have felt like we let our family down.”

They have four children ranging up to 21 years of age. They were not sure where they would all go if their home was lost. Then they read about the home loan modification program. They tried contacting their mortgage servicer, but got nowhere.

That is when they contacted NCALL and attended a Foreclosure Prevention workshop. After the workshop, Kenneth and Kathy met with their counselor one on one. NCALL’s counselor was able to negotiate with their mortgage servicer and got them a 2% fixed interest rate on their loan. Their house payment is now much more affordable. As a condition of the new loan, Kenneth and Kathy attended credit classes.

“Now we feel like we are starting over. We learned a lot along the way, like to use our credit cards wisely and save while you can. I think NCALL’s services are great!”
"If it wasn’t for NCALL, I would be living in my truck."

Ron owns his home and his own business, but this past year all that was in jeopardy. Like many people, this Vietnam Veteran almost lost his home to foreclosure.

After several booming years in the lawn care business, the drought the summer of 2007 put a definite crimp in his income. After a few months of using his savings to stay afloat, Ron knew he needed help. He started calling his mortgage servicer with no success. Then he received a list of agencies that provided foreclosure counseling services in the area. NCALL was on the list and he made the contact.

With NCALL’s assistance, Ron applied for the Delaware Emergency Mortgage Assistance Program (DEMAP), which provides assistance up to $15,000. While awaiting their decision, NCALL continued working with Ron by communicating with his mortgage servicer and helping him to demonstrate reliable income. After working with NCALL for approximately five months, Ron received the DEMAP loan resulting in a four month respite from his mortgage.

“My NCALL counselor really stuck with me,” said Ron. “It was a great outcome that really gave me some breathing room. If it wasn’t for NCALL, I would be living in my truck. It’s a really good experience to know that someone is working to help you. NCALL did wonders!”

“NCALL does more than most people imagine,” says Ron. “I have recommended NCALL to several people. If you don’t call NCALL, don’t blame me!”


Homeownership Counseling Success Stories

"NCALL was the best thing that ever happened to me."

Ebony never thought owning a home was within her reach. That all changed in 2006, after meeting with one of NCALL’s Housing Counselors.

After years of renting, the unit next to Ebony’s had a fire. As a result, her unit was damaged and she had to move herself and her two children back into her parent’s home. She was grateful for their assistance, but really felt like she was stuck. That is when she began meeting with NCALL.

“NCALL was the best thing that ever happened to me,” says Ebony. “I learned that needs come before wants. You have to get your priorities in order to aim for what you want in life.”

Through attendance in NCALL’s Growing Your Money classes, Ebony learned to save, pay off her debt and manage her finances. She then enrolled in the Individual Development Account program and began saving money for a downpayment on her home. She improved her employment by completing her graduate degree at Rutgers University and now has her Masters in Social Work. Her patience and perseverance really paid off. This fall she closed on a four bedroom, one and a half bath home in New Castle, Delaware and her entire family has really been loving it.

“The kids love the new house. We have so much space now! I worked so hard to get to this point; but, I can finally stand up and say I did it! It is worth all the trials and tribulations. Homeownership definitely changes everything. It’s lots of added responsibility, but it brings so much more independence.”

Ebony also has advice for all the other would-be homeowners out there,

“Everyone has big dreams, but it’s important to be realistic. Aim to be comfortable, but you have to have wiggle room in your budget. You definitely have to learn to crawl before you can walk.”

"NCALL empowers you to work hard for yourself."

Alishia's children love to climb the tree in front of their Dover home. Originally from Boston, MA, Alishia came to Delaware in 1992 to attend Delaware State University. By 1999, she had graduated, married, had one baby and was pregnant with a second when her divorce occurred. Although devastated, she was determined to take care of her family.

While getting her Masters degree and working temp jobs, she fell behind on rent and bills. She ended up homeless in 2004 and living in an emergency shelter. The Dover Housing Authority took her into their rent to own program. This is when Alishia began working with NCALL.

"Homeownership has always been my dream, but I kept hitting a wall," she said. "I had to believe it was possible for myself; I wasn't going to give up."

Alishia grew up in the inner city with a divorced mom who said she could have whatever future she wanted, but no one in her family had ever owned a home.

"I wanted to break the cycle by starting something new, giving my kids a different future. This home is the beginning of a new legacy and an inheritance for my children. Lack of information keeps people stuck. The process of buying a home is intimidating and overwhelming. NCALL takes your hand and walks you through the journey. Credit repair also takes work. NCALL empowers you to work hard for yourself."

Since moving into her home, Alishia has become a published author, started her own company, and created a support group to help empower women who are divorced or divorcing.



Financial Literacy Success Stories

"NCALL coaches you."

Charlotte is a single mom whose three teenagers and one grandchild live with her. As part of her year-long homeownership process, Charlotte successfully graduated from the Growing Your Money Financial Literacy classes. She purchased a single family home in Dover using the Dover First Start Grant Program in September 2007.

Prior to owning a home and due to credit issues, she lived with family and then rented an apartment. Through Growing Your Money, she cleared up her credit and learned budgeting skills that she now passes along to all of her friends! She was a little afraid to think about maintaining a home with all of the news of the foreclosure problem, but developed the confidence to believe that her new skills would see her through.

"NCALL coaches you. No one tells you what to do, but you're given honest answers and choices about what to do about your situation."

Charlotte enjoys the privacy of being in her own home and the safety of having her own driveway for her and her kids, as opposed to coming in at night from a parking lot. And her teenagers certainly enjoy their own rooms!