About two years ago, the house I had been renting for four years in Durango was for sale. I was devastated and started the search for a new house to rent in Durango. Even though I held a steady job and always paid my rent on time, I am on the low end of the income scale and never even considered trying to buy a home for myself and daughter.

Then someone told me about the Regional Housing Alliance, a local partnership dedicated to helping people who would otherwise not qualify for a standard bank home loan. When I first went to the RHA to see if there was any way they could help me try to buy a home, I figured it was a long shot, and, frankly, I was somewhat embarrassed to be asking for a loan, given my economic status. But from that first meeting and throughout the emotional months that followed, the incredible staff members at RHA gave me nothing but encouragement, respect and support.

They worked tirelessly to figure out which of their programs might suit my situation and held my hand, sometimes literally, through the entire process of looking for a house, applying for a standard loan, and navigating the baffling amount of paperwork and legal processes that go along with buying a home. Thanks to a supplemental loan from the RHA, I am now the incredibly proud owner of my own home in Durango – something I never thought could happen.

Amy Benson

Durango