Zaida's Story
Behind Every Door is a series of success stories featuring our neighbors who have been served by the Virginia Beach CDC and the regional outreach of Southeastern Virginia Housing Corporation.
The Virginia Beach CDC impacts the lives of 1500 neighbors each year. Zaida Fitzgerald is one of those neighbors.
Zaida recently invited me into her home. She is a former VBCDC neighbor who was homeless when she found us in 2009. In 2008, her employer went out of business and Zaida had to file for bankruptcy.
Zaida found housing through VBCDC. "I was very thankful," said Zaida, with a smile. "VBCDC educated me about credit and didn't deny me housing based on my bankruptcy."
Tanisha Davis, Leader of Family and Community Support Services, met frequently with Zaida to make sure she was on the right track. "Tanisha helped me prepare my budget. She encouraged me to go back to school, and suggested that an online school could fit my schedule."
Zaida is now a junior at Saint Leo University. She expects to graduate with a Bachelor's degree in Sociology and a minor in Human Resources Administration.
On July 11, 2014, she closed on a 3-bedroom townhouse of her very own in Suffolk, VA. "VBCDC helped me in so many different ways. They gave me a chance that I didn't really think I would have."
VBCDC's goal is to open more doors of opportunity to those needing affordable housing. We are looking for creative partnerships with other government, nonprofits, for profit businesses, private developers, citizens groups, educational institutions, etc. Let's have a conversation about changing lives.
Thank you for all that you do.
Gina R. Lucy
Gina is the Leader, Marketing & Community Relations and spends her days (and lots of evenings) telling the story of VBCDC to everyone in the community who listens.
