MCCA today announced the award of $250,000 in grants and loans to assist 70 first-time homebuyers to in the purchase of a new home.  These funds are part of a $2.8 million Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) grant allocated to nine agencies for disbursement to Illinois residents to assist with down payment and closing costs, subordinate loans and homebuyer education to income-eligible homebuyers.

More information on this program can be found on our Downpayment Assistance page.

If you are considering purchasing your first home, whether you’re just in the planning stages or if you have your home selected, now is the time to take this class! Our HUD-certified housing counselors will provide you with the knowledge you need to purchase and sustain your home. You’ll learn how to shop for a mortgage, how to engage a home inspector, budgeting and credit, and much, much more!

Our home buyer education is also available online, so you can take the course at your own pace, on your own schedule.

We have been providing home buyer education classes in Spanish for the past two years, and now the recently added online course is also available in Spanish!

Please click this link for more information on home buyer education!

MCCA’s nomination for the 2010 Families of Distinction is Samanthe Boyd.

Each year, the Illinois Association of Community Action Agencies (IACAA) honors families who have benefitted in some way from Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) programs. Samanthe Boyd was nominated by Community Services Case Worker, Becky Berry, for the achievement of completing Mid Central Community Action’s Individual Development Account pilot program. Ms. Boyd is a 26 year old single mother of three sons, ages 9, 8 and 5. She works full time for a cleaning company with an annual income of $24,000 (125% poverty level for a family of 4).

In October 2007, Samanthe inquired about Mid Central Community Action’s (MCCA) Individual Development Account pilot program (IDA) which was created for the purpose to help participants gain financial literacy and save money for the purchase of a home. After enrolling in the IDA program Samanthe opened a savings account and deposited an initial $40 in the State Farm Bank sponsored program. Ther after, Ms. Boyd deposited at least $10 per week during the next two years. During this time, Ms. Boyd also became familiar with banks and savings accounts; learned budgeting skills; built assets; repaired credit; took the Homebuyer’s Education class; and received monthly case management that included referrals, guidance, and support. On November 30, 2009, two years after beginning the IDA program, Samanthe was able to buy her first home. MCCA matched Samanthe’s savings of $1000 with a 2 to 1 match (for a total MCCA contribution of $2,000). In addition, she was eligible for an Affordable Housing Coalition grant of $5,000 because she had successfully completed the Homebuyer’s Education class through MCCA’s housing department.

Samanthe’s life journey puts this amazing accomplishment into perspective and demonstrates Ms. Boyd’s dream of “owning my own home for us” and her determination to create the best life possible for herself and her sons.

In 2000, at the age of 16 (a mere 10 years ago), Samanthe’s mother emancipated her so that she could get her own apartment. Her first apartment was through the Bloomington Housing Authority. During this time, she earned her GED, got a job to buy her first car, and had her first son. After a couple of years, she received Section 8 housing and rented a “really nice place.” Ms. Boyd states that she was able to “manage my credit and paid my bills on time which really helped.”

In 2007, at age 23, Samanthe was now a mother of three young sons (7, 6 and 2). She was managing well, but wanted “to have a place I could call mine.” After learning about MCCA’s IDA program, she decided it was the time to begin saving for her dream of home ownership. On a salary of $280 per week and working 25 hours per week, Samanthe made the commitment to save $10 weekly. Samanthe was diligent and timely in her deposits. By September 2009, Samanthe had accumulated a total of $1416 and was ready to buy her home! Samanthe and her sons are now enjoying their three bedroom home with a finished basement in Bloomington.

As Samanthe’s caseworker during her involvement in the IDA program, I am very proud of her accomplishments. She is a very quiet, self-determined woman. It has been a pleasure to meet with Ms. Boyd and help provide her with the information, guidance, and support she needed. Samanthe was always willing and eager to learn and follow through with suggestions and information. Not only did Samanthe have high expectations for herself, she accomplished her goals under extremely difficult circumstances – a young, single mother and low income. But, she exemplifies what can happen with the correct mindset, initiative, self-discipline, and willingness to learn. Ms. Boyd ends her story with these words: “I’m really thankful of this (IDA) program and everyone who as helped me at Mid Central Community Action.”

Mid Central Community Action and I are honored to have had the opportunity to play a small part in Samanthe Boyd realizing her dream!

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Happy social networking!

The purpose of these councils would be to address residents concerns and issues such as safety, public property preservation and civic engagement.

If you are a resident of Sunnyside or Holton Homes and would like to attend, please register in advance with Memuna Lee at (309) 834-9233 as space and refreshments are limited.

Door prizes and childcare will also be available.

Not only do we have a new realtor, Jenn Carrel, representing Mid Central Community Action, Inc., the cost of the homes has been significantly reduced.  Prices now start at $110,000!  With a silent second mortgage, provided by the Illinois Housing Development Association, you would only need to be approved for an $80,000 mortgage on one of these beautiful new homes.

Contact Jenn Carrel directly at (309) 241-5317 to set up a tour, or call Memuna Lee (309) 834-9233 to discuss pre-qualification for the silent second mortgage. 

Plan on attending our open house on March 13^th, from 11-2:30pm. Both Jenn and Memuna will be there.

The Trailside Subdivision is located at the intersection of West Grove St and Lumber St in Bloomington.

With the new online presence also comes increased access to down payment assistance funding of up to $5,000.  Income-eligible participants can use this forgivable grant towards either down payment funds on a first home or closing costs incurred as the result of the purchase of a first home.

Anyone interested in learning more about this new on-line class may visit the Homebuyer Education page, or contact the housing department directly at (309) 834-9245 (English) or  (309) 834-9254 (Spanish).

Regardless of whether you are a first-time home buyer or an existing home owner ready to make your next home purchase, MCCA urges you to seek home ownership education from a HUD-approved nonprofit organization, like MCCA, before purchasing a home.

MCCA Agent, Bruce Cowhig, is available to meet with customers who are facing foreclosure at 150 N. Schuyler St, Suite 204 in Kankakee. The office is open from Monday to Friday, 9 am until 1pm, with other hours available by appointment.

Bruce can be reached by phone at (815) 939-9700, or by email at bcowhig@sbcglobal.net

If you live in this service area and are facing foreclosure, or if you know anyone in this situation, please contact Bruce to make an appointment to discuss foreclosure intervention options. Remember, nothing is worse than doing nothing!