{"id":282474,"date":"2026-03-13T10:00:38","date_gmt":"2026-03-13T14:00:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ncrc.org\/?p=282474"},"modified":"2026-05-26T10:30:54","modified_gmt":"2026-05-26T14:30:54","slug":"more-than-a-mortgage-ycmihocs-education-and-counseling-programs-turn-housing-challenges-into-opportunities","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ncrc.org\/more-than-a-mortgage-ycmihocs-education-and-counseling-programs-turn-housing-challenges-into-opportunities\/","title":{"rendered":"More Than a Mortgage: YCMIHOC\u2019s Education and Counseling Programs Turn Housing Challenges Into Opportunities"},"content":{"rendered":"

Despite soaring housing costs, stagnant wages, limited access to financing and the lingering effects of historical policies like redlining, many low- to moderate-income families continue to pursue the dream of homeownership. For over 20 years, the You Can Make It Home Ownership Center (YCMIHOC) has helped turn that dream into a reality in underserved communities across the Greater Nashville, Tennessee area.<\/span><\/p>\n

Two Decades of Growth and Transformation<\/b><\/p>\n

What began in 2005 as a grassroots effort has grown into a HUD-approved housing counseling agency and a Tennessee Housing Development Agency Homebuyer Education Initiative Trainer.<\/span><\/p>\n

YCMIHOC is also a proud member of NCRC\u2019s Housing Counseling Network (HCN)<\/a>, a national network of HUD-approved agencies committed to advancing equitable access to housing opportunities through high-quality counseling, education and advocacy.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI started by doing homebuyer education classes out of my clothing store,\u201d says Deborah Harding, YCMIHOC\u2019s founder and executive director. \u201cThat\u2019s how the dream started.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Over two decades, <\/span>YCMIHOC<\/span><\/a>\u2019s personalized counseling, first-time homebuyer education and post-purchase support have helped more than 6,500 people navigate the homebuying process and pursue long-term financial stability.<\/span><\/p>\n

In 2024, the organization assisted 817 households \u2013 506 through homebuyer education and 257 through counseling services \u2013 helping create over $126 million in wealth-generating value for program participants.<\/span><\/p>\n

Vicki Carter, YCMIHOC\u2019s grant writer, says those outcomes are notable given that only about 3% of available housing falls between $100,000 and $200,000, while Nashville\u2019s average home price exceeds $400,000.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe still had 325 people close on a house [in 2024],\u201d says Carter. \u201cThat\u2019s significant considering the housing market. People still dream of owning a home.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

One particularly inspiring story is of a veteran who purchased his first home at the age of 80 with YCMIHOC\u2019s guidance \u2013 proving it\u2019s never too late to achieve the dream of homeownership.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ripple Effect of Homeownership<\/b><\/p>\n

YCMIHOC\u2019s work goes beyond helping families purchase homes. It has a ripple effect on entire communities.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMortgage loans drive economic growth,\u201d Carter explains. \u201cEach loan goes into the ecosystem and supports jobs and strengthens businesses and neighborhoods.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Home sales also generate significant tax revenue, supporting local communities and fueling economic growth across multiple industries.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s what they call the multiplier effect, with millions in total economic activity spanning construction, realtors, closing services, furniture and appliances,\u201d Carter says. \u201cThat entire economic engine is why we promote this level of homeownership.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Laying the Groundwork for Generational Stability<\/b><\/p>\n

Although not all clients become homeowners, YCMIHOC ensures they are equipped to control their financial futures and contribute to their communities.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe talk about building generational wealth \u2013 how to save, budget and build credit,\u201d Harding explains. \u201cEven if they don\u2019t buy a home, they have the tools to be successful.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

A core part of YCMIHOC\u2019s work is educating the community about predatory payday lenders \u2013 which often target lower-income individuals and trap them in cycles of debt \u2013 and guiding clients toward safe, affordable financial options.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cKnowledge is so powerful [and is] the first step toward financial wellness,\u201d Harding explains. \u201cOnce you learn something, nobody can take it away.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

For YCMIHOC, that knowledge doesn\u2019t just prepare individuals and families for homeownership \u2013 it unlocks doors toward sustainable wealth, independence and community growth.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Nicole Rothstein is a Contributing Writer.<\/em><\/p>\n

Photo courtesy of the YCMIHOC team.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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For over 20 years, the You Can Make It Home Ownership Center (YCMIHOC) has helped turn that dream into a reality in underserved communities 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For over 20 years, the You Can Make It Home Ownership Center (YCMIHOC) has helped turn that dream into a reality in underserved communities…","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ncrc.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/282474","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ncrc.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ncrc.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ncrc.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4019"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ncrc.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=282474"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/ncrc.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/282474\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ncrc.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/282477"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ncrc.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=282474"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ncrc.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=282474"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ncrc.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=282474"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}