(LEWISTON) Despite the economy, one Lewiston woman has achieved her dream of homeownership through hard work, determination, and a little guidance. "After living in an apartment for so long, there are no words to describe how I feel. The past four years have been really hard for my daughter and me, so owning our own home is exciting."

Christine Jensen purchased her home in December after working with Idaho Housing and Finance Association's (IHFA's) Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) program and the Individual Development Account (IDA) program. IDA is a joint venture between the Home Partnership Foundation, the state's only 501(c)3 nonprofit housing foundation brought to you by Idaho Housing and Finance Association, and United Way of Treasure Valley.

"Jensen's story shows what participants in the FSS and IDA programs gain by working hard to achieve their goals," said Gerald Hunter, IHFA President and Executive Director. "Because of her diligence, she now has a home to call her own."

FSS is a voluntary program open to Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher recipients that helps Idaho households learn to take control of their lives and achieve financial independence within five years. Jensen signed up for the FSS program in 2006 with the goal of becoming a homeowner, and began many of the steps to get on her path to self-sufficiency. She attended a Finally Home!® Homebuyer Education class, was building an emergency savings account, and was knowledgeable about her credit scores. Additionally, she was getting ready to attend training at work that would increase her wage and open up advancement possibilities. While continuing to work on these steps, she began meeting with the FSS specialist in IHFA's Lewiston office, Debbie Winchester. Together, they set up a monthly budget to keep her on track with her financial goals, and began looking at options that would allow her to purchase a home.

Jensen learned a lot about prioritizing her spending while working toward her goal of homeownership. "Make sure you can budget and pay for things every month," she advises others looking to purchase a home. "It was an eye-opening experience when I realized where my money was going. Now when I go into a store, I ask myself if I really need what I'm purchasing."

In April 2008, Jensen joined the IDA program, a matched savings account families can use to help build assets and enter the financial mainstream. The program matches an individual's savings up to a maximum of $2,000 at a rate of two to one. When they complete the program, individuals can use these savings to purchase a home, pursue education, or start or enhance a small business. With the help of her IDA savings, seven short months after joining this program, Jensen was a homeowner.

"My daughter loves it, she just turned nine and got to pick out the color of her bedroom," Jensen said. "She has a playroom in the basement, and I have an arts and scrapbook room and family room. It's great to have so much space."

Additionally as a new homeowner, she is eligible for the tax credit of 10% of the home's purchase price, up to $8,000, provided through the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008. Though this credit is not part of the FSS program, it is another benefit Jensen can access through her home purchase.

The FSS program does not affect a household's housing subsidy. Anyone currently participating in IHFA's Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher program who would like to achieve economic independence and reach employment goals may enroll. Currently, the IDA program administered through IHFA's branch offices is not accepting new applicants.

Anyone interested in finding out more about the FSS program in the Lewiston area can call the IHFA branch office at 1-866-566-1727 or (208) 743-0251, or IHFA's Boise office at 1-800-458-2791.

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Idaho Housing and Finance Association, a financial services and housing business organization, provides funding for affordable housing in Idaho communities where it is most needed and when it is economically feasible. For more information, visit our Web site at www.ihfa.org.