Toledo organizations celebrate successful purchase in homeownership lending program

TOLEDO, Ohio — Larry and Cynthia Robinson have purchased their first home with help from KeyBank, NeighborWorks Toledo Region and The Fair Housing Center.

This collaboration started in September 2021 to provide $3 million worth of first mortgages to borrowers in low-to-moderate income neighborhoods.

The groups helped the Robinsons work their way toward their first home purchase with homebuyer education and financial counseling prior to taking out a loan.

Their determination and willingness to work for the opportunity earned them a supported down payment they would not have been able to make without assistance from the lending program.

"Bringing everybody together to be able to create new homeownership opportunities improves our neighborhoods, improves people's lives and so it's just a win-win all the way around," said Marie Flannery, president and CEO of The Fair Housing Center.

The house was recently renovated to be accessible for the Robinsons' disabled child.