On a path to home ownership

August 22, 2025

Becoming a homeowner takes time, effort, and patience. For “Carrie” – not her real name – that journey began about five years ago when she enrolled in the Wilmington Housing Authority’s One Stop Shop program. Through monthly meetings, the program provides instruction and resources to help residents move from renting to owning their homes. It focuses on self-sufficiency, with an emphasis on financial literacy.

Carrie lives with her 20-year-old daughter and has faced food insecurity along the way. “I’ve only been to the Food Bank once. It’s too far for me, but there are some food pantries close by,” she said.

Two years into the program, Carrie connected with Marilyn, a Stand By Me counselor, a free financial coaching service offered through the Food Bank of Delaware. In private sessions, Stand By Me clients learn to build budgets, increase savings, improve credit, and make sound financial decisions.

Carrie, 56, is a working mom who knew she needed to raise her credit score to qualify for a mortgage. Her goal was clear: homeownership.

That’s where Marilyn’s guidance proved invaluable.

“She encouraged me to save more, and she did a great job,” Carrie said. “She wanted me to have more left over after I paid the bills. She also helped me with budgeting. She is excellent.”

One key strategy was opening a credit card with a $200 limit and using it carefully to build credit.

“After three months, she had a 700 score, but then the scores went up and down,” Marilyn explained. “She was using it too much, but she paid on time. She needed to keep her usage under 30 percent.”

Today, Carrie is closing in on the $3,000 in savings she needs to begin the program’s home-buying process. “I think I’m almost there—maybe need $1,000 more. I should have it this year,” she said.

She hasn’t started house-hunting yet, but she’s considering buying the home she’s lived in for the past 14 years.

To learn more about Stand By Me at the Food Bank of Delaware, click here.