ASHLAND – The Ashland Board of Realtors and Housing Partners of Ashland County recently teamed up to help a local resident realize a lifelong dream.
The Ashland Board of Realtors presented a $1,500 check to Housing Partners of Ashland County Partner Person Michael Sparr on his afternoon break from his assembly/packaging position at D-R Services Aug. 8. Sparr is a 31-year-old that now has a home to call is own.
“This (homeownership) has been a lifelong goal for me,” said Sparr as he danced around in his walker.
Sparr became a Housing Partners Partner after their board received a glowing recommendation from his group home landlord, reviewed his budget and saw evidence that he knew how to live within his means and could save money. He purchased the home with a 20-year, interest-free loan from Housing Partners.
Housing Partners of Ashland County seeks to help veterans, the disabled, senior citizens and low to moderate income residents of Ashland County who are in need of safe, decent and affordable housing who have not previously owned a home before. Housing Partners also assists with housing needs, new construction and home repairs.
Although the home was move-in ready for most, Sparr needed some renovations to be completed for his accessibility needs. Grants from Home Depot and Waiver Funds are helping retrofit the bathroom and kitchen, and Trinity Lutheran Church Retired Carpenters Group installed a ramp in Sparr’s house.
Housing Partners has also had the home rewired and hope to install a new furnace as well as a few other fixes with the donation from the Ashland Board of Realtors.
Kristin Horst, ABOR Public Relations chair, said she was thrilled that the board of realtors was able to donate because of the association’s first-ever golf outing in May.
“This is the first time in a long time that ABOR has been able to give back to the community (in this way), and knowing this is also helping Michael achieve his goal of independent homeownership – it’s a win-win,” said Horst.
Housing Partner president Janet Enzor said this year was a unique situation for the agency’s projects.
“Not all of our projects and Partner Families were typical, and this is the first time we have partnered with a single homeowner. This donation from the Ashland Board of Realtors will go a long way to helping us finish this project to meet his (Michael) physical needs,” Enzor said.
