As you can see in the above photos, nine years after move-in, styles may have changed, elected officials may have gone out of office and the official welcoming committee celebrating a new, first-time homeowner replaced by familiar neighbors, but Carol King Shaw still considers her home a dream come true. And, a dream fully realized as she and her husband finally paid off the loan this year on their Garfield neighborhood home.
When Carol first looked at the neighborhood 12 years ago, she wasn’t so sure it was a place she wanted to be. Her brother had pointed out the vacant lot where her house would later be built as one he loved, but Carol hesitated. It did get her thinking about homeownership, however and she found herself at what was then Neighborhood Housing Services of Phoenix.
Eighteen months later, after diligently working with a counselor to get her credit in shape and taking the 8-hour homebuyer education class, Carol was ready to look again at Garfield. The previous 12 years had made a real difference in the neighborhood, thanks, in part, to the development and rehab of approximately 45 homes by Trellis. Carol watched as her new home was built and moved in at the end of 2006. “I felt a real sense of accomplishment,” shares Carol. “My hard work paid off.”
Joining her a year later was her husband Dave Shaw and the two of them have made quite a cozy home. Family photos and her parent’s knickknacks adorn bookshelves and Dave’s handiwork in the backyard gives proof to his green thumb and expertise building with wood. Both volunteer at Alwun House and feel very comfortable strolling through this urban neighborhood.
Trellis salutes Carol & Dave – for modeling the responsible behaviors that we teach and for showing everyone what sustainable homeownership looks like and wishes them many more happy years in their dream.