For as long as she could remember, Pam Rogers dreamed of having a home to call her own. Life, however, placed obstacles in her way. She was raising her eldest granddaughter, and when her marriage ended, the financial fallout left her starting over with damaged credit. To keep her household afloat, Pam worked two jobs, stretching every dollar. Still, the routine of moving from one rental to the next wore her down. “I felt like I was throwing away money,” she said. That growing frustration planted the seed of determination that one day she would break free from renting and step into a home of her own.
Finding NeighborWorks Waco
Pam’s turning point came when a co-worker encouraged her to connect with NeighborWorks Waco. At a community event, she met Delisa Burnell-Smith, and that introduction opened the door to a life-changing journey.
She began by participating in the Homebuyer Education Workshop, the Financial Freedom Workshop, and ongoing financial counseling. During one of those sessions, NeighborWorks Waco gave Pam a difficult but honest message: she was not ready yet. “They told me I needed to be ready because they wanted me to be successful,” Pam recalled. At first, the words were discouraging, but they also lit a spark inside her.
Pam took NeighborWorks Waco’s advice to heart. She cut back on unnecessary spending, deleted shopping apps, and committed to saving every paycheck from her part-time job. Over time, she paid down her debts, raised her credit score, and built new financial habits. “I’m a walking testimony that if you just stick to the plan NeighborWorks Waco gives you, you can be successful,” she said.
A Dream Realized
A year later, Pam returned to NeighborWorks Waco with new confidence. She once again attended the workshops, this time with a fresh sense of determination. Not long after, she came across a house in her childhood neighborhood. The moment she walked through the door, she knew it was the one. To her delight, she soon learned that the home had been built by NeighborWorks Waco itself.
Today, Pam is thriving as a homeowner. She has been able to furnish her house with savings she once thought impossible, even paying cash for improvements like new gutters. She continues to follow Delisa’s guidance to always keep three months of mortgage payments in her savings, and she is proud to say she has done just that.
Sharing Her Advice
Pam encourages anyone who feels uncertain about where to begin to start by reaching out to NeighborWorks Waco. She believes that even if it takes years before someone is ready, the guidance and planning make the effort worthwhile. She often points to the Homebuyer Education Workshop as a life-changing first step, calling it a small investment of one Saturday that delivers an abundance of knowledge and confidence.
She also stresses the importance of working with a NeighborWorks Waco financial counselor to get a clear picture of where you stand with your credit. From there, she advises focusing on paying down debts and saving consistently. With the right plan and determination, Pam believes anyone can surprise themselves with what they are capable of achieving.
Proof of What Is Possible
Pam’s story shows that it is never too late to turn finances around and achieve the dream of homeownership. Through her hard work, perseverance, and the steady guidance of NeighborWorks Waco, she transformed not only her situation but also her future.
Pam put in the work and made her goals happen. Today, Pam is not just a homeowner. She is a shining example of resilience and determination to her grandkids and to the rest of us in the Waco community.
