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Issue 17 June 2008 Ludlow Homes sell despite credit crunch There’s a lot of talk these days about During her two years renting in the housing market being in a rut. Grays Ferry, she received several Don’t tell that to the families who open house invitations from PHA, have reached agreements to buy the but she had to overcome some new PHA houses at Ludlow. These credit problems. homebuyers saw an opportunity and seized it. She received counseling from one of the agencies that works with PHA “A lot of the families who are moving residents to help them restore their in can see that Northern Liberties credit and save for a down payment West is a neighborhood on the rise, on a home. Housing counseling and they want to grow with it,” says helped her budget her money, too. Malvin Reyes of PHA’s Home Sales She doesn’t shop as often as she used New Homeowner team. “The area still has some rough to, cooks at home more, and buys Page 03 patches but it is quickly changing, DVD’s instead of going to movies. and these new residents are making a great investment in their futures.” Purdie now owns a 3-bedroom home with two baths. She and her son One of the new buyers is Lashawn New Ludlow homeowner Lashawn Purdie accepts keys from PHA’s Cheryle have their own bedrooms while the Purdie, who like several others, is Smalls. Lashawn loves her brand-new home. third bedroom is an exercise room. expected to move this June. Purdie, But there were other features that who lives with her 7-year-old son, had Purdie is a social worker for the State plans on a career in probation and attracted her to Ludlow. been living at Greater Grays Ferry of Pennsylvania and a part-time parole because she’d like to help Estates before making the big move student at Temple, where she is people coming out of the prison continued on page 14 into first-time homeownership. majoring in criminal justice. She system get back on their feet. Residents Like Renovations Page 05 Pageant winner had to It’s always darkest after jump through hoops Dawn moves to S.C. Fourteen-year-old Tykia McWilliams “Philly is always going to be my medals playing for the U.S. Women’s was very nervous at the start of the first home,” insists Dawn Staley. Olympic basketball team. She’ll be an PHA North Boys & Girls Club beauty assistant coach on this year’s team. Summer Food is pageant. By the end of the evening, she “South Carolina is borrowing me had shown the judges enough poise right now,” adds the Philly-born and Staley acknowledges that her roots Coming Page 14 and confidence to be crowned Miss public housing raised basketball are here, and her Philadelphia Fairmount Boys and Girls Club. But powerhouse, who left her connection will continue. before winning the crown, she had to position as Temple University’s “This is my hometown, the INDEX jump through a few hoops. women’s basketball coach programs that I started last month to coach the will go on,” she says of the Job Fair . 03 Tykia, an 8th grader at Spring Garden University of South Carolina Dawn Staley Foundation, Elementary School, won the crown Gamecocks. a nonprofit that sponsors with an impressive Hula Hoop routine a leadership academy, Senior Living . 04 in which she danced swinging the Staley is a Philly a summer basketball hoop on every part of her body. The star in every league and an after-school Executive Director performance required grace and skill sense of the word. program for middle Message . 05 and was stumble free. She chose to During her eight school age girls. use the Hula Hoop because she “just years at Temple, wanted to do something different that she was named Staley calls Youth News . 07 One-time PHA resident Dawn Staley would make me stand out.” Big Five Coach of growing up in accepts the University of South Carolina Hula Hoops will never be the same the Year five times PHA’s Raymond head basketball coach position at a Budgeting Classes . 09 The pageant winner said she had after Tykia McWilliams shows how and guided the Rosen housing press conference in Columbia. played with Hula Hoops as a small to use them in a dance routine that Owls to six NCAA site “a great child and devised the prize-winning helped her win first place at the tourneys. Staley was a standout experience. It was my foundation.” Recycling at PHA . 11 PHA North Boys and Girls Club player for the WNBA before retiring continued on page 13 Beauty Pageant. in 2005 and earned three gold continued on page 14 PHA’s Graduates . 15 You’ve known each other since high school. You’ve always been the best of friends and now, both of you have reached the wonderful age of 40. Congratulations! Over the years, the two of you have shared stories about relationships, children, and ambitions — in both good times and bad. But now it’s time to add “breast cancer screenings” and “mammograms” to the list of things to discuss. One in eight women will develop breast cancer in their lifetime, but when the disease is diagnosed early, the fi ve-year survival rate is 98%. But don’t leave it at the talking stage. After the conversation, both of you should make an appointment for a mammogram today. At Keystone Mercy, we believe every one of our female members over the age of 40 should have a mammogram once a year. We also believe that one good way for that to happen is to talk about it. Members who need help scheduling an appointment can call 1-800-521-6860. A Community Newspaper For And About Residents 3 New PHA homeowner says ‘you can do it!’ Angela Allen, a Housing Choice certain things,” she says. Angela Voucher resident, was tired also found out that grants of renting. The desire to have are available from public and her own place had already private groups to help first-time been growing before she began homebuyers, once they build receiving notices in the mail from up some cash. Eventually, she PHA about homeownership. Ms. received grants from Women’s Allen had a good work record; Opportunity Resource Center she’s worked as a secretary at St. (WORC), Citizens Bank, and the Ignatius Nursing Home in West CDC Partnership to use toward a Philadelphia for nine years. She down payment and closing costs. had even won an award for saving someone’s life. Now, Angela was ready to begin looking. She began working with However, Angela needed some a local realtor who sent pictures help on budgeting and credit. of homes for purchase via the That’s where Internet. PHA’s home After seeing buying and “Don’t ever think that you about ten counseling houses, she programs can’t own your own home.” settled on a came in. She Angela Allen home in West learned how Philadelphia, to save money not far from and how to her workplace. Angela Allen in the living room of her new home. improve her credit by controlling At one time, she had lived across her spending so she could achieve the street from the corner home the American dream. Angela says she now owns. Her two sons love her new 1,400 yard is also a plus; one of her “I figured I would own a home, budgeting is the most important square foot home, which has four sons can now have a dog. It took but I didn’t think (it would thing she learned in the home “It’s big. It’s spacious. The bedrooms, and a big front porch. just six months from the time happen) so soon,” she says. buying classes. neighborhood…is well kept up. Allen says having upstairs and Angela Allen contacted PHA’s “Don’t ever think that you can’t The neighbors look like they take downstairs rooms is a plus, too, homeownership department to own your own home, because you “If you want something in pride in their property,” she says. especially when you need some realize her dream of homeownership. can do it!” life, you can’t be splurging on peace and quiet. And the back PHA’s June 28 Job Fair to offer one-stop shop for job hunters Need a job? PHA is ready and Genesis Healthcare, Shop Rite and are hiring and can interview you willing to help. Just shine your shoes, Manpower. A computer lab will also on the spot. Private rooms will be put on your best suit and head off be set up with opportunities from available for personal interviews. to PHA’s 4th Annual Job Fair on employers who cannot personally Saturday, June 28 from 10 a.m. to 2 attend the Job Fair, but will accept So if you are looking to find a p.m. at the John F. Street Community online applications. Aides will be on job or interested in finding a Center, 1100 Poplar Street. hand to help job hunters navigate better job, the PHA Job Fair is the the employers’ web sites and fill out place to be on June 28. For more “Everyone is welcome to participate the applications. information, call Luz Paradoa at in our job fair,” says Luz Paradoa, 215-684-4366 or Rylanda Wilson Program Manager of PHA’s The Job Fair offers the chance to at 215-684-4161.

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