HomeMy WebLinkAboutLetter from David Ferrier regarding CHIP Fundraiser through Annr - r" ~
CHIP
Communit~r Housing
Improvement Program
100( Willow5treet
Chico, CA 95928
530-891-6931
530-891-8547 Fax
pear Friends:
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C O MGM U~N~i*T Y D R+i V E
A Program o~.i\iorth Volley Community Fvurid'ation
August 5, 2013
For 40 years, CHIP has been helping people help themselves. We'd like to share with you a story that
illustrates how our housing and housing-related services has made a positive impact on people that live in
our communities.
Exactly a year after beginning credit counseling, Gina and her husband Javier fulfilled the last steps
necessary to qualify for a home loan through CHIP's Self-Help Housing Program. Gina didn't think it
was possible to ever own a home, but with the help of CH1P's Housing and Credit Counseling
Program, she w,as educated about credit, how to improve hers and learned how she could eventually
qualify for a home loan.
Excited about the prospect of owning a home, she and Javier printed a floor plan from CHlP's
website and posted it on their refrigerator next to her "action plan" from her credit counseling
appointments. That floor plan was a powerful reminder of their goal to become homeowners and
became Gina's "greatest motivation" when she had to make frustrating phone calls to collection
agencies or sit down to write a letters to creditors. Their efforts to improve their credit have paid
off. This summer, Gina and Javier will part of the first group of Self-Help homeowners to begin
construction on their new home in Biggs, CA.
What is so gratifying about this story is the high probability of suecessful homeownership for Javier and
Gina. Prior to purchase, they attended CHIP's first time homebuyer workshop, where they became
educated in the loan closing process, taxes and insurance and other homeownership responsibilities, and
created a realistic budget that includes a savings plan for future repairs and maintenance. Their housing
costs have become stabilized, and #hanks to a very favorable financing package, they can expect affordable
payments for the life of their loan. In fact, their new housing payment will be lower than what they
currently pay in rent!
Gina and Javier are just one example of CHIP clients who have benefited from our credit counseling, first-
time homebuyer training and Self-Help Housing Program. For 40 years, CHIP has assisted thousands of
clients to rehabilitate or build their awn home; live in affordable rental housing communities; receive
housing, credit counseling, and foreclosure prevention services; or participate in first-time homebuyer
education workshops or resident services programs.
In 2011, CHIP began fundraising in response to the reduction ar lass of many of our traditional funding
sources. Through the financial support of Friends of CHIP, we have been able to continue providing much
needed housing and housing-related services to our clients in CHIP's seven county service area.
This is CHIP's third year participating in the Annie B's Community Drive through the North Valley
Community Foundation tNVCF). Many of you who are reading this request for financial assistance were
important donors to our early fundraising efforts; we are asking you again to donate to CHIP through this
matching grant that is dedicated to strengthening local non=profits.: We welcome new friends of CHIP to
make a donation to help better the lives of people in our communities.
100% of the funds raised for CHIP will allow us to continue providing healthy, sustainable, affordable
housing and services to qualified residents in the North Valley. Imagine the impact your donation can have
on families and individuals who wish to build their awn home, rent an affordable apartment or work on
their credit!
Won't you please donate now? Donations must be received by NVCF between August 1 and September 30
at 5 pm. Donations can be made by check, credit card, stocks or equity, real estate, or other personal
property of value. For more detailed information, please visit www.nvcf.~
If donating by check, make it out to Annie B's~CHIP and mail to North Valley Community Foundation, 3170
Cohasset Road, Suite S, Chico, CA 95973. If donating by credit card please do so on line at www.nvcf.or~ or
www.chiphousin~.or~
Your tax deductible donation to CHIP will help us continue to build over 30 self-help homes each year;
provide housing, credit counseling and first-time homebuyer education to over b00 clients annually, and
deliver resident services to 612 households at CHIP's 13 rental housing communities. With your financial
assistance we look forward to another 40 years of helping people, help themselves.
Executive Director
CHIP Board of Directors:
Joe Feist, President Irv Schiffman Victoria Stephenson
Lori Hoffman, Vice President Joy Murphy Jill Harris
Ed Mayer, Treasurer Luke Reimers Fong Lo
Jan Camozzi, Secretary Mark Hooper
Associate Members:
Tom Barrett Dan Blair Harold Carlson Jacque Chase Tom Haithcock Fleet Irvine
Susan Price Tom Lando Chuck Lundgren Mike McGinnis Denna Persell Paul Lieberum
Tom Simenc John Turner Tami Ritter Ramona Flynn