New Home, New Possibilities
The powerful impact your generosity had on one family’s journey
New KulshanCLT homeowner Eric Jackson is getting settled in his new home with help from his family, Ron and Doreen Adams. You helped give Eric a home to call his own.
Thanks to your support and grants and community partnerships with Habitat for Humanity, Whatcom County, and Whatcom Community Foundation, six families moved into the first completed homes at Telegraph Townhomes in September! Among the families you helped was Eric Jackson, who had been on KulshanCLT’s waiting list for just over two years.
Eric’s mother and step-father, Doreen and Ron Adams, gave Eric extra help throughout the process because he is on the Autism Spectrum, making interaction and communication more challenging. “Eric is very high functioning,” says Doreen. “He does everything. He graduated from Meridian, the same high school as his grandmother. He drives and has two jobs.”
Eric works part time cleaning at the Opportunity Council with support from Kulshan Supported Employment as well as at a CrossFit gym. Even combined with the disability income he receives, Eric earns far below what is needed to save enough for a down payment and afford a typical Whatcom County mortgage.
Eric’s new home will help him live independently and with many big improvements! Thank you.
Prior to moving to Telegraph, Eric lived in a Bellingham Housing Authority studio apartment at Lincoln Square. He loves his new townhome. “It has what I was looking for: a dishwasher and laundry and my own parking space,” explains Eric. “Now I don’t have to pay money [to do laundry] and no one’s gonna take it away.” Eric also appreciates that he’ll be able to bring his RV to his new home for easy loading for trips. He enjoys RVing around Washington with Doreen and Ron and their Good Sam club.
Having a spare bedroom is also a big bonus. “Eric’s cousin from Pennsylvania likes to come visit and now Eric can have guests and privacy.” The Whatcom Transit Authority bus that passes by every
“It has what I was looking for, a dishwasher and laundry and my own parking space.”
15 minutes will also enable Eric to continue to take the public transit easily for work, errands and to Doreen’s home in Ferndale. “It gives him a nice place to live,” adds Doreen. “And it’s his.”
Thank you for helping Eric buy his first home. He is so excited about his Telegraph Townhome!
