Chris Harberson never believed he would ever become a homeowner. He had always dreamed of being one, but had struggled to meet his day-to-day needs and could never plan ahead. At one time during his life he was homeless for almost two years. Then he took advantage of the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Homeownership Program administered by the Colorado Department of Human Services, Division of Supportive Housing and Homeless Programs (SHHP).
This unique program allows people with disabilities the opportunity to earn a chance to have an affordable piece of the “American Dream”. Chris took advantage of that opportunity, stopped focusing on his day-to-day needs and began to plan ahead.
On September 10, 2008 a group of people gathered at Chris’ house to celebrate that Chris is the 100th homeowner assisted by the SHHP Homeownership Program. Becoming a homeowner changed his whole point of view. As Chris says, “For the first time I don’t feel like I’m on the outside looking in.”
Even though he has just moved into his new home, Chris has great plans. He has removed old wallpaper from the living room and painted his bedroom and family room. He has even begun to work on cutting down some old trees in the yard. Chris and the other 99 homeowners were able to buy their homes because of a successful partnership between SHHP, HUD, CHFA, Colorado Housing and Assistance Corporation (CHAC), supportive service agencies, lenders, realtors.
In 2000 the SHHP Housing Choice Voucher Homeownership Program became one of the 1st programs to assist people with HCVP subsidy to become homeowners. It is only successful is the result of a strong collaboration between SHHP, Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Colorado Housing and Finance Authority (CHFA), US Department of Agriculture/Rural Development, Colorado Housing Assistance Corporation, Lenders, Realtors, and Nonprofit service providers around Colorado. It is still the largest program in the country that assists people with disabilities to move from subsidized housing to homeownership. It means a great deal more to the homeowners who are part of the program. “ It means” said Chris “that somebody who is disabled, who has always had a sense that they were less [than others] can now become part of the community.”
SHHP is the Public Housing Agency (PHA) for the Colorado Department of Human Services. It provides housing subsidy to over 3,800 individuals and families with special needs all over Colorado. SHHP partners with over 60 community based human service agencies to provide housing and associated services. Among the services SHHP provides the community is its homeownership program. This program provides the homeownership option to people with physical, mental, and development disabilities. The secret of its success is the partnership between community based supportive service organizations, government entities and private businesses to build a comprehensive support network around people with disabilities who wish to become homeowners.
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