Financial education helps family achieve dream of homeownership

Dawn O'Neill, a single mother living in a Wyoming Housing Network (WHN) affordable housing property, wanted to give her two daughters a permanent home of their own.



She applied to the Habitat for Humanity homeownership program in 2014 and 2015 but was not selected. O'Neill was determined, but unsure of how to become a better homeownership candidate. When the opportunity arose to enroll in the Financial Foundations course offered by WHN in partnership with the local Habitat, she seized it.

Using the skills and knowledge she learned in the four-week course, she set financial goals and made some lifestyle changes. In addition, O'Neill worked individually with WHN's financial coach. Finally, O'Neill applied a third time to the Habitat for Humanity program and was selected as a partner family in the fall of 2016.

Finally, O'Neill is building the home she will share with her family and it is scheduled to be completed in the spring. She was so impressed with the staff and programs at the Wyoming Housing Network that she began serving on WHN's board of directors.