From homelessness to homeownership: Bronx man buys first co-op after yearlong journey
With help from Bronx Neighborhood Housing Services, Daquan Perry entered a homeownership program and began saving money. One of the biggest sacrifices he made was giving up his car to cut expenses.
Just one year after living in a shelter, Bronx resident Daquan Perry is now a first-time co-op owner.
Perry said the experience of living in a shelter pushed him to make major changes in his life and work toward homeownership.
“Staying there was horrible. We had to live by a curfew. I hated that curfew,” Perry said.
With help from Bronx Neighborhood Housing Services and JPMorganChase, Perry entered a homeownership program and began saving money. One of the biggest sacrifices he made was giving up his car to cut expenses.
“I was mad giving up my car,” Perry said. “But I wasn’t too mad because it was $700 a month for insurance and I wasn’t really going anywhere.”
When Perry joined the program a year ago, he had about $200 in his bank account. By the end of the year, he had saved $12,000.
With assistance from a lender at JPMorganChase, Perry also received grant funding to help cover purchasing costs.
“It’s highly important with the grants to kind of bridge that gap, to be able for them to have the funds to purchase so that they will have funds left over in case of an emergency,” said Keona Stovall, a lender advisor with Chase.
Between funding from Chase and additional grants Bronx Neighborhood Housing Services helped him apply for, Perry received more than $40,000 for buying costs and home repairs.
Now settled into his new home, Perry said he is excited to be part of a neighborhood with shops and restaurants he enjoys exploring.
