In 2016, as Elissa Rehm and Dennis Hisgun, III, began working toward homeownership, four affordable new homes were transforming a previously blighted block not far from their apartment. They would occasionally drive by, knowing one of these homes would be just right for them.
By the time the final home was constructed, the family qualified for purchase. They moved out of their rental unit and into a four-bedroom, two-bath home located blocks from a city park, bike trail and local school.
“We saw it being built and it’s surreal to me now. It doesn’t feel like our own home, but it is,” said Dennis, a seasonal asphalting worker.
The house is one of four in this pilot project, which featured a strict set of income guidelines. From start to finish, it involved each of MMCDC’s internal departments and nearly all of its major partners.
“Our son loves this new house,” added Elissa, a part-time bookkeeper for an area construction company. “We’re just really grateful for the whole thing.”
