At the time, Tyshondra’s credit scores were in the mid-550 range, largely due to several collection debts and the overuse of her credit cards, which were at or over their limits. Additionally, she had over $25,000 in student loan debt, further impacting her financial ratios.

A budget was developed based on a “needs vs. wants” framework, allowing her to cover essential household expenses while also setting aside a modest amount for savings. Tyshondra was committed to following the budget and took the initiative to secure a second full-time job. The income from this job was dedicated to reducing credit card balances, negotiating settlements with collectors, and paying down her student loan debt.

Tyshondra’s hard work and dedication paid off. She successfully reduced her credit card utilization from nearly 100% to below 30% and eliminated all collection debt. Her student loan debt was also significantly cut in half.

However, her high income from the two full-time jobs initially prevented her from qualifying for down payment and closing cost assistance. She continued working the second job until it began to affect her health but managed to save over $8,000 during that time.

Ultimately, Tyshondra’s efforts led to an improvement in her credit scores, which rose above the 700 level across all three credit reporting agencies. With her enhanced financial standing, she qualified for a home loan in Polk County and received down payment assistance. Tyshondra successfully purchased a property.

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Angela’s biggest obstacle to homeownership was securing enough down payment and closing cost to create an affordable mortgage payment. She continued to work with her housing counselor, Juan Menendez to review all the resources and best mortgage product for her. After much research, patience and number crunching, Angela received approximately:

• $40,000 of City of Tampa DARE funds

• $40,000 of East Tampa CRA funds of $40,000,

• $10,000 of Federal Home Loan Bank

• $100,000 of City of Tampa ARPA funds and

• $35,000 of Warrick Dunn Foundation funds

This is a true example of it takes a village to create affordable housing opportunities for our low-income residents in Tampa. We are delighted and congratulate Angela and her four children. We are also thankful for all the partnerships that made this dream a reality for this family.

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During their 3rd session, the client and counselor (Angel Santiago) reviewed their credit, savings and money
management, and affordability. Valerie Walker had an average of 585 via credit karma. Her credit card utilization
was at 0%

After reviewing the need for personal savings/reserves and lender/DPA requirements, the client and counselor set
goals and action plans for the client to help her situation. The client and Counselor discuss all the different loan
product options and the purchase price and goal the client had.

The client’s main goal was to pay down open collection accounts to have a positive impact on their credit score.
The client was very motivated and excited to start the action plan we put together to achieve their goals.
Valerie hard work is paying off. The client was able to increase her score by 10for Transunion and increased
her score for Equifax by 16 points and now has an average credit score of 602. The client also was able to save
$0.00 for down payment. The client used her savings due to a family emergency.

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During their first session, the client and counselor (Angel Santiago) reviewed their credit, savings and money
management, and affordability. Kiauntae had an average of 585 via credit karma. Her credit card utilization was
at 0%

After reviewing the need for personal savings/reserves and lender/DPA requirements, the client and counselor set
goals and action plans for the client to help her situation. The client and Counselor discuss all the different loan
product options and the purchase price and goal the client had.

The client’s main goal was to save more funds for closing and increase her credit score. The client was very
motivated and excited to start the action plan we put together to achieve their goals.

Kiauntae hard work is paying off. The client was able to increase her score by 8 for Transunion and increased
her score for Equifax by 2 points and now has an average credit score of 602 The client also was able to save
$10,000.00 for down payment.

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Since her former counselor left the agency, the client lost hope until she was contacted in April and was assigned to this counselor who proceeded to counsel the client in her native Spanish. The client was informed in the programs that were available and that could help her with her down payment and closing needs. She then decided that since her wish was to live within the Tampa City limits, she would apply for the Dare to Own the Dream Program as well as the East Tampa CRA Program as she wanted all available options.

Originally and of concern was the fact that her budget showed a deficit. A budget was prepared for the client to follow and this budget would allow her to use her financial resources to meet all of her financial needs and also would prevent her from further dipping into her savings. The client subsequently made the necessary adjustments with her budget with a “needs vs. wants” mentality resulting on a modest monthly surplus which allowed her to add to her savings.

The client had very good credit and was counseled on the proper ways to use credit and keep her good ratios.
Eventually, and because the client followed instructions, she was able to apply for both the East Tampa CRA and the DARE to Own the Dream Program with a goal of becoming a home owner by 2022.

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Then, the client also picked up a part time job using the earnings strictly to pay down bad debt and reducing the balances on existing and active debts.
As a result, the client’s credit scores slowly improved and at this time she has increased the credit scores by over 100 points. Her credit is now considered to be in good shape!

Her budgeting efforts paired with her part time job has also allowed the client to save approximately $3000.00.
The good credit and savings have now resulted in the client been eligible to apply for down payment and closing assistance not only with the City of Tampa’s Dare to Own the Dream Program but also with East Tampa CRA with a new target to buy a home before the end of the present year.

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Client also started a part time job, in order to pay off collections and to save money.
Also, she paid off the collection accounts she had.

Her credit score did increase. She had raised it to over 700.

We have submitted her DARE application to increase her opportunity to become a
home owner.

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Her first session was back on January 24th 2021, where the client and counselor reviewed her financial situation. The barriers she encounters are credit score affected by collections and high credit card utilization of
84%. New credit and reducing credit card utilization will help to increase her credit score. She is in the 550 brackets.

The changes happened as follows:
Her follow up in April 2021, her credit card utilization was 30%. Counselor advised to pay a collection of a credit card for $ 248.00, and client paid the collection.

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During their first session, the client and counselor (Angel Santiago) reviewed their credit, savings and money management, and affordability. Justin had an average of 666 via credit karma. Her credit card utilization was at 68% After reviewing the need for personal savings/reserves and lender/DPA requirements, the client and counselor set goals and action plans for the client to help her situation. The client and Counselor discuss all the different loan product options and the purchase price and goal the client had.

The client’s main goal was to lower the utilization on all the credit cards the client has to have a positive impact on their credit score. The client was very motivated and excited to start the action plan we put together to achieve their goals. Ms. Jenkins hard work is paying off. The client was able to increase her score by 80 for Transunion and increased her score for Equifax by 78 points and now has an average credit score of 745 The client also was able to save $2,000.00 for down payment.

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