Success Stories

Empowered by Home: Megan’s Story

Megan Ostiller.Empower

Megan, a Bay Area native and a special education teacher at Union School District in San Jose, had been living in a tiny apartment in Campbell. In her third year of teaching, she knew she wanted to stay in her community and was ready for something bigger but like so many educators in the region, she wasn’t sure how she’d come up with a big down payment to purchase a home. She heard about Empower Homebuyers SCC from an email from the human resources department at her school. After learning all about buying a home and working with Housing Trust’s homeownership team, she eventually found a condo she enjoys that’s a short distance from work.

“I loved the idea of owning and not renting and it was empowering to buy a home,” she told us at the time.

We first spoke with Megan when she was just moving in a few months ago.. We caught up with her this week to find out how she had settled in. “I love it,” she said of her home. “I feel thankful for being able to live in my own home during the shelter in place and in a time of uncertainty. It is a place of comfort.”

In honor of Teacher Appreciation Week 2020 and a nod to Giving Tuesday, we asked Megan and some of the other teachers our homeownership programs have helped to name their favorite nonprofits – Megan is a regular supporter of Humane Society and Sweet Farm in Half Moon Bay – please consider donating to both.

Want to learn about Empower Homebuyers SCC during Affordable Housing Month? Register for the Empower webinar on May 19th and check the SV@Home Affordable Housing Month calendar for events throughout May.