A woman who’s been in the Chicago Housing Authority's subsidized housing program for two decades has become the 1,000th renter to become an owner as part of the CHA's 24-year-old Choose to Own program.
Derenda Bradley was all smiles standing in front of her Chicago Bungalow near 95th and Vernon, just north of the campus of Chicago State University, with CHA CEO Keith Pettigrew.
“From the time I first heard your story it has stayed with me,” Pettigrew said. “The road you walked to get here and everything you’ve built for your family along the way is why we all do this work. One thousand families have become homeowners through the CHA homeownership program Choose to Own. That is a milestone.”
Bradley said she worked hard to get to this point. There was education, counseling, saving, sacrifice and better choices.
“Life presented me with many challenges,” she said. “As a young mother, as a grandmother. Along that road I have had many challenges. Some of those challenges included drugs, but I regrouped, I got myself together, I rebuilt my life.”
She was asked what this means to her.
“It’s just exciting,” she said. “It’s exciting to just be part of such a wonderful program. It’s life-changing. I couldn’t have asked for anything more.”
On same day her offer on the bungalow was accepted, the adoption of her four grandchildren was finalized.
They were present for the ceremony and are living in the home.
Chicago Housing Authority celebrates 1,000th homeownerMike Krauser
Press release:
The Chicago Housing Authority (CHA) will celebrate a milestone for its Choose to Own (CTO) Homeownership Program by honoring Derenda Bradley, the program's 1,000th homeowner, at her newly purchased home in the Roseland community.
Prior to her home purchase, Bradley was a CHA Housing Choice Voucher holder who lived in her previous apartment for 19 years. She successfully completed CHA’s Family Self-Sufficiency program, known as LevelUp, before pursuing homeownership through CTO. The same day her offer on the home was accepted, she also finalized the adoption of her four grandchildren, who now live in the Chicago-style bungalow with her.
CHA CEO Keith Pettigrew and Board Chairman Jawanza Malone, Ald. Michelle Harris, and CHA partners will join Bradley to recognize both the program milestone and her personal journey. They will also present a special surprise for the homeowner, courtesy of Lowe's and Electrolux.
About Choose to Own: CHA launched the Choose to Own Homeownership Program in 2002 to give Housing Choice Voucher holders and public housing residents a path from renting to owning. Rather than putting a voucher toward rent, qualifying families can apply it toward a mortgage, with CHA covering a portion of the monthly payment for up to 15 years for working heads of household and up to 30 years for those who are elderly or disabled. Participants also get connected to homebuyer education, credit counseling, and vetted real estate and lending professionals to help them through the purchase process. To qualify, applicants must have held a CHA voucher or lived in public housing for at least a year in good standing, be first-time homebuyers, and meet income, credit and savings thresholds. More than two decades since the program began, Bradley's purchase marks the 1,000th family to complete that journey.
