Hanging Memories On A New Wall

Hanging Memories On A New Wall

Sasha’s mother loved photography. Growing up in Chicago, Sasha says her mom was always capturing moments on film. Framed family photos lined the walls of stairwells. It’s a memory that reminds Sasha of home.

“That’s always symbolized happiness, the American Dream,” she says. “I’ve always wanted to read the story of my life on my wall.”

Sasha aims to create a legacy both on and off the walls of the four-bedroom home she’s building in Milwaukee’s Harambee neighborhood. Sasha will become the first person in her family to become a homeowner, an accomplishment she’ll be dedicating to her mother.

“My mom passed away at a very young age,” says Sasha. “She always wanted to become a homeowner, so I feel like I’m completing this for her.”

Sasha sees homeownership as a means to create generational wealth for her four children: Amir, Samir, Timir & LaTricia. U.S. homeowners have an average net wealth that is 400% higher than that of renters with similar demographics and earnings.

“This opens the opportunity for me to give them financial stability for the future,” she says. “I want to look back in a rocking chair and say I raised three generations in this home.”

Sasha has been renting what she describes as a starter home just a block away from her new home. She loves the schools in the Harambee neighborhood and her son plays baseball in Rose Park.

She had applied for our affordable homeownership program prior to the pandemic, but needed to work on her credit to qualify. She had been considering renting a new home, as they’ve outgrown their current rental, when she got a call from Natasha, our Family Services Director. Natasha helped provide a path for Sasha to get her credit in order and soon, she was accepted.

“It was a sign,” says Sasha. “I’m so grateful.”

Sasha says that owning this home will be one of the biggest accomplishments of her life.
“It’s a different feeling from renting,” she says. “Being able to have this pride to say ‘I own something.’”