When Nadia first walked through Lacasa’s doors to open an IDA matched savings account, homeownership wasn’t on her radar. “It felt like more of a responsibility than I wanted to manage,” she said. “After all, homeownership is what adults do — and I’m not quite adulty enough. (FYI, I’m turning 49 next month.)”
But with the right guidance, resources, and support, Nadia’s journey took a hopeful turn — and ended with her holding the keys to a home she never expected to find so quickly.
Starting with Savings: The IDA Program
Lacasa’s Individual Development Account (IDA) Program is designed to help income-eligible individuals reach major financial goals, like homeownership, by encouraging consistent saving and providing a generous match. Nadia saved $1,500 — and with Lacasa’s 3:1 match, she received an additional $4,500 to put toward her home.
This $6,000 boost gave her the confidence to begin exploring what homeownership could look like.
Building on Momentum: City of Goshen Assistance
When Lacasa Housing Counselor DeVon Swihart heard about a new down payment assistance opportunity through the City of Goshen, he immediately thought of Nadia. She applied for the program and was awarded $15,000 in support to help with her purchase.
One More Key Piece: Launch Grant from Old National Bank
The final — and largest — source of support came through the Launch Grant, a program by Federal Home Loan Bank of Indianapolis in partnership with Old National Bank. The Launch Grant provided $20,000 in additional assistance, helping cover closing costs and principal reduction for first-time homebuyers like Nadia.
In total, Nadia received $41,000 in combined support from the IDA match, City of Goshen, and Launch Grant.
A Place to Call Her Own
The home she purchased wasn’t even on her radar when she began. “When I started thinking about buying a home, I didn’t consider anything other than the house I was renting from a family member,” she said. “They wanted to sell and I wanted to not move again. But as I spent more time figuring out what I could afford, I realized that staying wasn’t going to work.”
Her realtor sent a few listings, and the third one was the charm. “I loved it immediately. I honestly did not think I would find something so fast. After that, things progressed super speedily. And now I’m figuring out where to hang pictures in my new place!”
A Testament to Partnership
Nadia’s story is more than just a success story — it’s a powerful example of how strategic partnerships and holistic support systems can remove barriers and create lasting change. Thanks to the collaboration of public and private partners, Nadia’s dream became reality.
We’re grateful to the organizations that helped make it happen:
-
City of Goshen
-
Old National Bank
-
Federal Home Loan Bank of Indianapolis
-
IHCDA
Want to Start Your Own Journey?
Whether you’re working toward homeownership, building credit, or managing debt, Lacasa is here to help. Our financial coaches and housing counselors offer guidance, tools, and encouragement every step of the way.
Call us at (574) 533-4450