Housing Credit Resident Stories

Since 1986, the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (Housing Credit) has financed the development or preservation of 3.5 million affordable homes across the country in large and small urban areassuburban communitiesrural towns, and on tribal land.  Below are just a few of the eight million low-income households, including veterans of the armed forces, families with children, senior citizens, individuals with disabilities, and low-wage workers, who have been served by the Housing Credit.

Veteran Housing

Family Housing

Senior Housing

Stories by State

California

Nathan and Davina

Nathan and Davina are a married couple whose bond has kept them strong during difficult times. Nathan is a veteran of the U.S. Navy and says he learned every trade there is, from construction to home repair. After three years, he moved into a position at a VA hospital while Davina worked for a church. Given their job history, they never thought they’d be homeless. Then Nathan was electrocuted and had to get a pacemaker, which caused potential employers to turn him down. The couple lost their home until moving into affordable veterans housing in Dublin, CA. Click here to learn more about Affordable Housing for Veterans.

Earl Hill and His Family

Earl Hill is a veteran who served military for eight years. During that time, he lived in many places in the United States and he and his family moved around frequently after he left the military. However, more recently, he and his family had difficulty paying their bills, paying rent, and having enough money for groceries, and were forced to move into a shelter. Eventually, they were able to move into Valor Crossing, an Eden Housing community that provides safe, stable, and affordable housing for veterans in Dublin, California, where Earl has access to education for his three children, food and grocery services, and the ability to enroll in college to explore a new profession.

“Living at Valor Crossing has been a new start for our family. Being here gives us a hopeful feeling — we have a place to live with affordable rent and less stress. For a military person, that’s a big plus.”

Read more about Earl’s story here.

Click here to learn more about Affordable Housing for Veterans.

Florida

Brenda Montalvo

Brenda Montalvo, a single mother of two children, was struggling to pay rising rents in Miami. She eventually found Southpoint Crossing Apartments, where she was able to not only provide a safe home for her children but also join a community fostered by other residents. To read more about Brenda, click here. To see more stories from the National Housing Trust’s Voices Out Loud series, click here.

Ricky Fitzpatrick

Ricky Fitzpatrick is a military veteran who was living near Miami when he was the victim of a drive-by shooting. The resulting injuries took Ricky out of the workforce. His friends connected him with Harvard House Apartments in North Miami Beach, FL where he found a home. To read more about Ricky, click here. To see more stories from the National Housing Trust’s Voices Out Loud series, click here. Click here to learn more about Affordable Housing for Veterans.

Bill and Grether Ginorio

Grether and Bill Ginorio’s life took a devastating turn when a surgery went wrong and Grether fell ill. They sold their home and moved to their daughter’s home in Mississippi. When Grether unexpectedly recovered her health, the couple was without a home or an income other than Bill’s small veteran pension. They eventually landed at Tequesta Knolls Apartments in Miami Beach, FL. To read more about Bill and Grether, click here. To see more stories from the National Housing Trust’s Voices Out Loud series, click here.

Georgia

Walter Littlejohn

Walter Littlejohn is a proud Atlanta native and father to three children. In the early 2000s, however, Walter’s mental health became dangerous when he attempted suicide. When he moved into a home at Phoenix House in Atlanta, GA, he was able to establish his independence and regain his mental health. To read more about Walter, click here. To see more stories from the National Housing Trust’s Voices Out Loud series, click here.

Denise Miller

Denise Miller is a former nursery school teacher who lost both her mother and brother in 2012. Unable to process her loss, she turned to drugs and alcohol, eventually losing her job and becoming homeless. One of her counselors at a homeless shelter recommended Phoenix House, where Denise found a home and has continued to receive the support she needs. To read more about Denise, click here. To see more stories from the National Housing Trust’s Voices Out Loud series, click here.

Illinois

Gerald Hurt

Gerald Eugene Hurt enlisted in the U.S. Military in 1979 when he was 17 years old. After a difficult year of his life when he got divorced and lost his mother, his life took a downturn and he found himself without a home. He recalls a difficult way of living, sleeping under bridges, in tents, and abandoned homes. Now Gerald lives in affordable veterans housing in Danville, Illinois and has access to supportive services. Click here to learn more about Affordable Housing for Veterans.

Freedom’s Path Hines

This collection of stories comes from Freedom’s Path in Hines, IL, where veterans can live in safe homes and access supportive services. Click here to learn more about Affordable Housing for Veterans.

Iowa

Tiffany Hunter

Tiffany Hunter and her four children were devastated by catastrophic floods in 2018. With only a backpack of belongings each, they had to start from scratch. They found a three-bedroom home at Chapel Ridge West Apartments in West Des Moines and now Tiffany can use more of her income to take care of her children. To read more about Tiffany, click here. To see more stories from the National Housing Trust’s Voices Out Loud series, click here.

Miranda Jordan

Miranda Jordan, a certified nurse’s assistant, was struggling to make ends meet when she had her son, Victor. Out of the workforce to raise Victor, Miranda was diagnosed with fibromyalgia and struggling with her mental health. When she and her son moved into a unit at Castlewood Apartments, she felt like she could breathe again. To read more about Miranda, click here. To see more stories from the National Housing Trust’s Voices Out Loud series, click here.

Kentucky

Bill Marinelli

Bill Marinelli, a talented pianist and veteran, settled his life down in Foxborough, MA. When a developer bought his bungalow for its land, Bill found himself without a home. Bill resorted to living out of his car, surviving bitter winters with two sleeping bags. With help from his friends, Bill eventually found a safe, affordable home at Paul Hazelton House in Saco, ME. To read more about Bill, click here. To see more stories from the National Housing Trust’s Voices Out Loud series, click here.

Maine

Bill Marinelli

Bill Marinelli, a talented pianist and veteran, settled his life down in Foxborough, MA. When a developer bought his bungalow for its land, Bill found himself without a home. Bill resorted to living out of his car, surviving bitter winters with two sleeping bags. With help from his friends, Bill eventually found a safe, affordable home at Paul Hazelton House in Saco, ME. To read more about Bill, click here. To see more stories from the National Housing Trust’s Voices Out Loud series, click here.

Maryland

Theora Beckman

Theora Beckman is a Maryland native who, when her grown children moved out and her retirement was fast approaching, realized she could no longer afford to live in her four-bedroom home. She found a new home at Mountainview Apartments, an affordable senior community in Cumberland, MD where she can comfortably cover her rent with social security income. To read more about Theora, click here. To see more stories from the National Housing Trust’s Voices Out Loud series, click here.

James Bowen Jr.

James Bowen Jr. moved to Maryland to help take care of his girlfriend’s father’s house, but found himself without a home when her father decided to return. James found Mountainview Apartments where he lived until his father, battling cancer, needed a full-time caretaker. He enjoys being an active member of the community there, where he became Vice President of the Tenants Association. To read more about James, click here. To see more stories from the National Housing Trust’s Voices Out Loud series, click here.

Ohio

Beverly “Jeanie” Jean Borden

Beverly “Jeanie” Jean Borden had a thriving career at a CAP agency. When her family, including her parents and her sisters, became ill, Beverly retired early to take care of them full time. She feared homelessness after those responsibilities ended, but found a permanent home at the Renaissance Apartments in downtown Toledo. To read more about Beverly, click here. To see more stories from the National Housing Trust’s Voices Out Loud series, click here.

Robert Kiss

Robert Kiss had settled into a comfortable life in Ohio with a family of his own and a career as an exterminator. With long hours, hard physical work, and old age, both the job and home maintenance became too difficult. Through his veteran’s support network, Robert found a home at Kirby Manor in Cleveland, OH. To read more about Robert, click here. To see more stories from the National Housing Trust’s Voices Out Loud series, click here.

Pennsylvania

Randi Horst

Randi Horst was a single mother of two children when her grandmother was unexpectedly and permanently moved to a nursing home. Randi, who had been her grandmother’s caretaker, found herself pregnant with a third child and without a home. She eventually found an affordable home at Sassafras Terrace Apartments in Mt. Joy, PA. To read more about Randi, click here. To see more stories from the National Housing Trust’s Voices Out Loud series, click here.

Cathyria Q.

“This apartment has given me peace, comfort, and safety. My daughter feels very safe here and welcome. One day I want to buy a house, but I know my daughter wants to stay here. She is eight. She loves it here. She’s always outside. Before we moved here, she said you never let me go outside like you do here. We’re a big family at Deer Lake. We live here. Where you live makes a connection with who you are.”

Read about Cathyria, a resident of Deer Lake Apartments in Lebanon, PA.

Edna D.

“This apartment was convenient…It took the worry from my children, and as a caregiver myself, I was always preaching this. You have to make a decision when you can no longer live by yourself. But this is independent living. I can do what I please within reason.”

Read about Edna, a resident of Franklin Street Apartments in Ephrata, PA.

Amme J.

This apartment helps me because I’m a single parent with two children. Wyndamere saved me and I appreciate that. I feel better as a person. I like to go home when I get off work and I didn’t always feel that way.”

Read about Amme, a resident of Wyndamere Apartments in York, PA.

South Carolina

Vivianna Harrison

Vivianna Harrison was sharing one bedroom with her two children in her mother’s home when she decided it was time to become independent. Her journey toward independence began at Belton Woods, where she learned money management skills and found a job in healthcare. She now lives in her own mobile home. To read more about Vivianna, click here. To see more stories from the National Housing Trust’s Voices Out Loud series, click here.

Texas

Charles Lockman

Charles Lockman is a U.S. Army veteran residing at the Travis Street Plaza in Houston, TX, a development that provides a service-enriched permanent housing community targeted to very low-income, homeless, and disabled veterans in Houston. After opening its doors in December 2012, Travis Street Plaza reached full occupancy in July 2013. Charles credits his affordable home with his ability to become a productive citizen again.

Virginia

Saifullah Khan and Fnu Faizullah

In 2002, brothers and Afghanistan natives Saifullah and Fnu began working for the United States Army as linguists while they were still in high school. By 2012, the job had become too dangerous for them and they escaped to start new lives in the U.S. with their families. They eventually found homes at Hazel Hill Apartments in Fredericksburg, VA. The brothers have earned Associate’s Degrees and are now both studying to become doctors. To read more about Saifullah, click here. To read more about Fnu, click here. To see more stories from the National Housing Trust’s Voices Out Loud series, click here.

How can we serve more residents?

Prior to the COVID-19 crisis, over 10.5 million households were spending more than half of their income on rent. Today, millions of workers have lost their livelihoods or had their wages reduced due to the crisis, and many impacted renters are likely to become housing cost-burdened if they were not already. Meanwhile, there is a growing shortage of affordable homes: For every 100 extremely low-income households, there are only 36 affordable homes available. Virtually no new affordable housing can be constructed without the Housing Credit; as the affordable housing crisis continues to grow, it will be essential to expand and strengthen the Housing Credit.

By expanding and strengthening the Housing Credit, we could serve even more low-income households across the country. The Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act of 2019, bipartisan legislation supported by over half the House of Representatives and 40 percent of the Senate, could provide over 610,000 additional affordable homes, and similar legislation will be reintroduced in the 117th Congress. Legislative and regulatory solutions are also needed to address barriers brought on by the COVID-19 crisis. Learn more about our the AHTCC’s priorities and contact us to get involved.