His birthday
gift------The American Dream
Miami, FL - July 30, 2008
Many
years ago, on July 29, Stephane Accilien was born in a little town in Haiti.
In his quest for a better future for his children, Stephane migrated to the
United States
and dreamt of owning his own home.
Sometime in 2003, he found a job at the Saint James Parish, in the
housekeeping department.
Stephane, a single parent lived in an efficiency apartment with his two
children. The space was too
small for comfort but he patiently prayed and waited hoping that someday, he
can own his own home and provide a more comfortable living condition for his
family. The years went by and
in 2007 he heard about NANAY Housing Resource Center and the services it
provided. Stephane stopped by
and said he needed help in housing.
After a series of counseling sessions with NANAY?s certified housing
counselors, and a Home Buyer Education Class, Stephane was now ready to buy
his own home.
On his birthday, July 29, 2008, Stephane closed on his two bedroom
condominium Unit at the Venice Park Gardens in North Miami.
?I can not wait to move into my own bedroom? says Stenia, his teenage
daughter. The Accilien?s would most likely spend the weekend in the inviting
cool waters of the pool in their complex. ?Never in my wildest dream did I
expect to move into my new home on my birthday?, says Stephane.
His America Dream is finally a reality.
Mr. Accilien obtained his 1st Mortgage from Gibraltar
Private Bank and with subsidy assistance from Miami Dade Housing Agency, the City of North Miami, Metro Miami Action Plan
(MMAP) and
Florida Housing Loan Bank (FHLB). The Accilien?s are now proud homeowners in the City of
North Miami. The closing was
handled by Southern Trust and Title Company at the NANAY Housing Resource
Center in North Miami.
NANAY
Housing Resource Center (NHRC) is non-profit 501(c )(3) affiliate
organization established by NANAY Inc.
to develop programs, affordable housing, counseling, education and
supportive services that empower, transform and improve the lives of
individuals and communities in Miami-Dade and Broward Counties.
NHRC currently provides home buyer
training, housing counseling, credit pre-qualification and purchase
assistance services to low- and moderate income families interested in
first-time home ownership, and is partially funded by the North Miami CRA.
It is now pursuing a socially- driven Housing Preservation Initiative
to prevent foreclosure and address other critical housing needs in North
Miami.
NANAY, Inc (National Alliance to Nurture the Aged and the
Youth), is a non-profit 501(c)(3) community-based organization that was
formed in 1994 to provide supportive services and improve the lives of
elders and youth. Free services are offered at the NANAY Community Center in
North Miami, including counseling, recreational services, transport,
caregiver support, health promotion program, community workshops, education,
English and computer classes for elders, as well as intergenerational
programs and after-school computer access for the youth. Its current funding
comes from the Florida Department of Elder Affairs, Alliance for Aging,
Alliance for Human Services, Miami-Dade County OCED, and North Miami CDBG.
