Program helps woman realize dream of home ownership

By Tiffany Gibson

Saturday, Jan. 9, 2010 | 2:05 a.m.

Emma Hurtado added two new keys to her key chain Friday — one to her newly purchased house and one to the city of Henderson.

“It’s a dream come true,” she said while holding the golden key to the city and looking at her new home on Jackson Drive.

Hurtado was able to buy her first home with the assistance of Housing for Nevada, a nonprofit organization that fixes up foreclosed homes and sells them to low-income families.

She received $25,000 in down payment and closing cost assistance and $59,000 in forgivable rehabilitation money.

Hurtado is the first person to purchase a rehabilitated home in the Las Vegas Valley from Housing for Nevada, which is funded through the federal Neighborhood Stabilization Program.

Hurtado said she plans to move in over the weekend with her 17-year-old son, Ivan. She said she chose the house because she fell in love with the big backyard.

“This is her first home and as a result of using this very unique program she is sure to sustain long-term home ownership for many years to come,” said Heather Sanchez, education and counseling director for Housing For Nevada.

Henderson Mayor Andy Hafen, who presented Hurtado the key to the city, said he would like other residents to look into the program.

“I really wanted to emphasize the importance of the program,” Hafen said. “She’s a single mom and I’d venture to say the price is as close to renting as can be.”

Her monthly mortgage payment will be less than $700.

“We want to set up clients with places they can afford and live in,” said Sheri Ayres, Housing For Nevada program coordinator.

U.S. Rep. Dina Titus and Councilwoman Kathleen Boutin also attended Friday’s ceremony and toured of the house.

“Hopefully this will stabilize the market, and this is just one of the number of projects,” Titus said.

Christine Johnston, Housing For Nevada executive director, said the organization plans to rehabilitate more than 25 homes this year in Southern Nevada.

Besides helping low-income families purchase homes, the organization also provides assistance to upgrade houses with solar energy technology to reduce utility bills.

Hurtado’s house was equipped with a rooftop, 3-kilowatt solar panel system expected to save 60 percent on her electricity bill — from $2,231 a year to $582, Ranen Ghatak of United Solar Energy said.

“This has the latest solar energy technology,” Ghatak said. “It will give them a tremendous amount of savings.”

Hurtado also received $6,000 from the federal government for making her house energy efficient, Ayres said.

Congress last year enacted legislation authorizing $4 billion for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to establish the Neighborhood Stabilization Program. Henderson received $4.1 million of those funds, and $1 million were distributed among three nonprofit organizations, including Housing For Nevada.

Each organization was awarded about $330,000 to remodel homes. Mortgage payments will go back to the city and be used toward rehabilitating other homes, Hafen said.