CHA’s $20,000 Grant: A Game-Changer for Prospective Homebuyers
When Samantha Stokes and her 14-year-old daughter stepped into their new East Garfield Park residence for the first time, the atmosphere was electric with joy and disbelief. Her daughter couldn’t help but kick off her shoes and dart through the house, drawn especially to the sprawling backyard they’d never had before.
“She was like a kid in a candy store, exploring the garage, the yard, and just taking it all in,” said Stokes, reminiscing on the moment. “Seeing that level of pure excitement on her face was incredible. Even now, it sometimes hits me that I actually own this home.”
Only a month ago, 38-year-old Stokes completed the purchase of her first-ever home, realizing a dream not just for herself, but for her daughter as well. The journey to homeownership began earlier this year when Stokes discovered that her housing choice voucher, provided by the Chicago Housing Authority (CHA), would soon expire due to her recent job promotion and resulting income increase.
Just as she was navigating her options with CHA’s Choose to Own program, the agency informed her of a brand new opportunity: the Down Payment Assistance Program. This initiative offered an impressive grant of up to $20,000 to cover down payment and closing costs for first-time homebuyers like her.
“It was like all the stars aligned,” Stokes exclaimed. “I was already quite far along in the homebuying process, so the timing of this new program was nothing short of serendipitous for me.”
Today, Samantha Stokes proudly stands in the spacious backyard of her East Garfield Park home, sharing the space with her elated teenager. Stokes is the inaugural participant to successfully close on a home through the CHA’s groundbreaking Down Payment Assistance Program. And as she reflects on her journey, one thing is clear: sometimes, dreams come true when you least expect them to, especially when you have a little help along the way.
