A recent News 12 Connecticut feature told the inspiring story of Marnie Dupree Nelson, a single working mother from Bridgeport who recently became a first-time homeowner thanks to Building Neighborhoods Together (BNT).
After years of dreaming about owning a home, Marnie proudly opened the doors to her newly purchased house in the Mill Hill section of Bridgeport. “My hope and prayer was to settle into my home and just be a good steward,” she shared, smiling as she showed off her refurbished bathroom, one of her favorite parts of her new home.
Marnie credits her success to the guidance and support she received through BNT’s free Financial Literacy and First-Time Homeownership Counseling programs. “Whenever I called, I was met with open arms,” she said. “I took the classes, my one-on-one counseling, credit, and budgeting courses; everyone was so helpful and patient. I’m grateful because I truly didn’t think this was possible.”
BNT CEO Doris Latorre expressed pride in Marnie’s accomplishment and in the organization’s mission to make stories like hers possible. “Helping families achieve financial stability and homeownership is what we’re all about,” Latorre said. She also thanked program sponsors including Newtown Savings Bank, JPMorgan Chase, and Santander Bank for supporting BNT’s efforts to make first-time homeownership achievable for working families across Connecticut.
This story aired ahead of BNT’s Annual Fundraising Gala at The Waterview in Monroe, an event that helps raise funds to continue providing free education, counseling, and affordable housing opportunities for families like Marnie’s.
“I love my little house,” Marnie said. “She’s still a work in progress, but I love her.”