Nearly two years after the 2019 Memorial Day Tornadoes, Miami Valley communities like Trotwood are still rebuilding.
On Wednesday, the Tornado Survivors Pathway to Ownership Project (Pathways Project) broke ground on the site where a new home will be built for a family that was impacted by the tornado.
The Pathways Project’s goal is to help survivors become homeowners as they build new homes and renovate others when possible.
“Today was such an exciting day. It’s one of those days as a mayor that makes you say you know that its all been worth while. This tornado has really changed the body of Trotwood,” Trotwood Mayor Mary McDonald said.
Marva Williams-Parker, the administrative coordinator for the Home Ownership Center of Greater Dayton, has dealt with many of the early applicants for the program, 17 of which are already confirmed as part of this project.
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Williams-Parker said many people are skeptical and believe there is a catch.
“When I explain to them there is no catch, it’s a win win for us both. We’re helping you become mortgage ready. We’re helping you become home owners and in return it makes us feel good to do,” Williams-Parker said.
The only stipulations is having to be impacted by the tornado, not already being a homeowner, and being mortgage ready in two to three years.
Even if an individual has doubts, they are still encouraged to reach out to the program.
“There’s a lot of things that our advisors know that the common person doesn’t. They could be like ‘oh, my credit sucks.’ Doesn’t matter, call in. ‘Oh, I got a repo.’ Doesn’t matter, call in. We’ll see what we can do, we’ll do the best that we can,” Williams-Parker said.
Tornado survivors interested becoming homeowners are urged to go to HomeownershipDayton.org to take the next steps in the path to recovery.