Teresa's Story

What would you do if you found yourself in the middle of a divorce, a bankruptcy caused during the marriage, and about to lose the home you share with your five children?

If you are Teresa Allen, you don’t give up.  

That was Teresa’s situation just three years ago.  “I had been working two jobs, trying to hold onto our home, but I couldn’t manage all the bills, and we had to get out.  The hardest part was being homeless in 2004”, she recalls. “I don’t think the kids knew it at the time, but we spent a couple months in a Red Cross house.”  Theresa did everything she could to maintain stability for the children, keeping the youngest ones in their elementary schools while she worked to rebuild their life.  “I couldn’t have done it without Sean, my oldest...he helped with the younger kids so much”.  

She was able to get a rental assistance voucher from Tompkins Community Action, and on the advice of their staff, eventually rented a large house in Enfield that would comfortably hold them all.  Teresa also enrolled in several financial management programs through Alternatives Credit Union and Cooperative Extension.  She used and Individual Development Account (IDA) in order to save funds and help her improve her finances.  It was through the IDA class that Teresa first enrolled in Better Housing’s homeownership education class.  “Once I found out about the program I was determined to follow through and make it happen”.

After meeting with the staff, Teresa began looking at homes.  “I wanted to keep the kids in Enfield Elementary”, she explained, and approached her landlord about buying the home they were renting.  He agreed, and she was able to use her IDA proceeds at the closing, which happened in November.

For Teresa, the switch to ownership has not been too hard.  “I always tried to fix things first myself when renting, if they weren’t too big, and buying this house has been good because I was already familiar with it and its issues”.  She received a maintenance inspection before buying from Bob Hunt, and had lots of support from the housing counseling staff, Rosie and Caitlin, all along.  “I can’t say enough good things about the staff.  I think it’s a great program!”

Teresa’s already looking ahead, saving more money toward a dream of starting her own business, similar to the Old One Hundred.   There’s little doubt she will get wherever she sets her mind to going and we’re glad to have played a part in her journey.