Dolores & Francisca

“You’ve got this.”

Dolores’s mantra throughout her home buying process was “You’ve got this.”

Purchasing a house was no easy task for Dolores and her mother Francisca. Dolores grew up in public housing in Lowell’s Acre neighborhood. With much focus, discipline and determination, Dolores and her mother were able to purchase her home using the “Family Self-Sufficiency Program” offered through the Lowell Housing Authority (LHA).  Michele Dinan was her LHA case worker.  While she was in the program, approximately 60% of the rent she paid was set aside to be used as her down payment.

They completed the home buyer training program. They followed through on the main message they remembered from the classes which was to put a great team together. They had a fabulous team of mostly women.

Dolores mentioned that Cathy Mercado of the Merrimack Valley Housing Partnership was monumental in helping them to keep their application for down payment assistance on track. “Awesome” is how they described Michelle of LHA, Cathy from MVHP, Attorney Angelique Eliopoulos, and their realtor, Christina Santos-Gordon.

They love the house they bought in Lowell. Their seller had made several improvements over the years.

Dolores completed her college degree at SNHU and works as a program coordinator for the Coalition for A Better Acre (CBA) in Lowell.  She specializes in youth development and runs an after school program.

Congratulations to Dolores and Francisca! Dolores’s words of wisdom include being positive, never doubting yourself, going for it and especially “You’ve got this.”