By Genoa Barrow | OBSERVER Senior Staff Writer
Homeownership is often a source of pride and stability for African Americans, and that is certainly true for Yvonne Murphy.
The area senior still lives in the Regency Park area home she purchased 22 years ago. Murphy was featured in The OBSERVER’s Urban Living section in June 2004.
She often introduces herself by using the headline from that article, “No More Rent.” Murphy remembers fondly being featured and talking about how she was aided in achieving the dream of having her own home by the Neighborhood Assistance Corporation of America (NACA), a national nonprofit that provides counseling and mortgage help for historically underserved communities.
“I was so impressed when the 2004 article was published,” Murphy recalls. “ I was interviewed over the phone and could not wrap my head around the 11/2 pages of the article [that was] captured.”
Having decided in 2002 that she was tired of renting apartments, Murphy was determined to buy a new home where she could make all the choices, including carpet, wall color and kitchen appliances, and have her own garage. She attended a mandatory NACA workshop and took the necessary steps to proceed.
“My workshop presenter said there was no down payment, and it was music to my ears. Before that, all I was hearing was that a potential homebuyer needed 10% for a down payment or how to sign up for a second mortgage.”
Her new three-bedroom home was constructed from the ground up.
“As my home was being built, I went every Saturday and Sunday to see the progress with family and friends,” she recalls. “I received my house keys in April 2003.”
Even without sharing her journey to homeownership in The OBSERVER, Murphy wouldn’t have kept the program and what it did for her a secret.
“I’ve shared and continue to share with anyone who is still renting,” she says. “Since the article, I’ve introduced five families who’ve gone through the NACA program to own their homes.”
Today, Murphy runs a home-based business, Vonhai Productions, and works as a web consultant and designer and 3D animator for television commercials. She’s also an active member of Black Women Write, a local group that supports writers on the path to publication. Murphy was recently featured in The OBSERVER’s special edition, “The Skin We’re In,” highlighting area seniors.
EDITOR’S NOTE: In this “Familiar Faces” series, OBSERVER Senior Staff Writer Genoa Barrow catches up with community members to find out “Where Are You Now?”
