Summer 2025
Interested in our Homeownership Center programs? Reach out!
Cierra Frye
Director of Homeownership Services
(804) 231-4449 ext. 102
cfrye@scdhc.com
Community Engagement Spotlight
On a beautiful Saturday morning in May, our Homeownership Center staff represented SCDHC at the Life Church Homebuyer Event, titled “Building Together”, sponsored by Truist. SCDHC served as both a vendor and a speaker at the Homebuyer Seminar. SCDHC staff promoted our programs and services, connected 1-on-1 with participants to discuss their individual needs, and participated in a dynamic resource fair.
The “Building Together” event was open to the public, and welcomed over 75 first-time homebuyers. Many participants were millennial buyers, demonstrating a spirit of optimism among young buyers and eagerness to build wealth for their futures. This engagement was especially encouraging to see, as the current housing market often presents affordability challenges for first-time and/or first-generation homebuyers. Our table stayed busy, with attendees lining up to complete our interest forms and learn about how SCDHC can support their path to homeownership. We shared information about down payment assistance and other available resources.
This event was an excellent outreach opportunity for the SCDHC Homeownership Center staff to showcase certain programs, like the City of Richmond Down Payment Assistance program, and connect with our community partners and generous supporters. We were joined by incredible organizations including:
LISC Virginia
Virginia Housing
Truist
Housing Opportunities Made Equal (HOME) of VA
Radio One
Local realtors, and more!
Click here to learn more about SCDHC’s Homeownership Center services on our website.
Gratitude Corner
SCDHC’s work would not be possible without generous supporters who advance our mission through grants and charitable donations:
VA Dept. of Housing & Community Development
The City of Richmond
Henrico County
The City of Emporia
Virginia Housing
Amandla Fund for Economic and Racial Justice
LISC Virginia
Richmond Memorial Health Foundation
Bon Secours Community Benefits Investments
The Weissberg Foundation
The Cameron Foundation
Community Foundation for a Greater Richmond
Wells Fargo
United Way of Greater Richmond & Petersburg
George Mason Mortgage
Truist Bank
First Citizens Bank
JP Morgan Chase
Fulton Bank and the Fulton Forward Foundation
The Weyerhaeuser Giving Fund
Chesapeake Bank
TowneBank
Jim’s Handy Home Hints
Keeping Your Cool: Essential HVAC Maintenance Tips for Summer
Your home’s cooling system works hard to keep you comfortable during the hottest months. But did you know that proper maintenance can help maximize efficiency, lower your energy bills, and prevent costly repairs? Follow these essential tips to keep your HVAC system running smoothly all season long!
Check Your Air Filter Regularly
Hold it up to a light; if dirt and dust block the light, it’s time for a change! Instead of relying on a strict timeline (like every 60 or 90 days), inspect it and replace it as needed.
Set It and Forget It
Constantly adjusting your thermostat can strain your system and lead to higher utility bills. Try maintaining a steady temperature for more efficient cooling.
Keep Your Outdoor Unit Clean
Remove leaves, debris, and plant overgrowth from around the outside condensing unit. Washing the fins with a garden hose helps maintain airflow and prevent overheating.
Inspect the Condensation Drainpipe
A clogged or damaged condensate drainage pipe can lead to water backups inside your home--or even shut down newer HVAC systems. Check it periodically and clean it if needed.
Leave Air Supply Vents Open
Closing vents in unused rooms may seem like a good way to save energy, but it can cause backpressure, straining your system and potentially leading to damage.
Consider a Home Warranty Plan
Having a home warranty that covers HVAC systems and major appliances can provide peace of mind and save on unexpected repair costs.
BONUS TIP
Schedule annual professional inspections to catch small issues before they become big (and expensive) problems!
Celebrating the Amandla Fund & BIPOC Homeownership
This month, SCDHC would like to acknowledge the significant impact of the Amandla Fund For Economic and Racial Justice in supporting our clients and their families on their journey to homeownership. We extend a special thanks to The Community Foundation for their continued support and partnership in this impactful work.
The story of one recent client exemplifies the meaningful outcomes made possible through the Amandla Fund. Our client, who identifies as Latina, and her husband and children, who identify as Black, enrolled in SCDHC’s homebuying program, receiving homebuyer education and pre-purchase counseling in preparation to purchase their first home. The family was overjoyed to receive a down payment assistance grant through the Amandla Fund, helping them achieve their dream of homeownership.
What makes this story even more exciting is that our client is herself a housing professional who has assisted countless other members of our community achieve their homeownership dreams, and now finally gets to turn her own ambitions into reality.
Not only did her family benefit from the Amandla Fund, but our client became the first person in her family to purchase a home in the United States. In addition to the Amandla Fund, she was able to participate in the Virginia Housing First Home Dream program: an initiative supporting first-generation homebuyers, offering a 2% interest rate reduction. Our client and her family secured a 5.5% interest rate and monthly mortgage payment of just $1,500.
The Richmond area struggles with a significant racial homeownership gap. In 2023, only 21.9% of Richmond homebuyers were Black and 4.7% were Latinx (National Association of Realtors). Success stories like this one highlight the impact of targeted programs and partnerships that promote equity in homeownership opportunities. Here at SCDHC, we stand by our steadfast commitment to support historically disadvantaged communities achieve homeownership and housing stability, and we’re proud to be part of a community committed to equity in housing opportunities and generational wealth-building.
SCDHC On Air
Local television news broadcast, 12 About Town, featured SCDHC’s very own Cierra Frye, Director of Homeownership Services, to celebrate National Homeownership Month. Click the link below to see SCDHC’s TV star discuss the benefits of homeownership, grant opportunities, and SCDHC’s newest affordable housing development, the Hollands. You don’t want to miss this one!
Homeownership & Juneteenth
On June 19th, we celebrated the national holiday of Juneteenth, which commemorates the day that enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, received news of emancipation on June 19th, 1865, nearly two years after Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation. Ever since, Black and African American communities have celebrated Juneteenth across the country, and it became a federal holiday in 2021.
June is also National Homeownership Month. SCDHC specializes in supporting first-time and first-generation homebuyers, who often face numerous barriers to homeownership, like lack of access to generational wealth, credit invisibility, unfamiliarity or distrust of banking, and discrimination. The vast majority of our clients identify as Black or African American, revealing that lack of access to safe and affordable housing continues to disproportionately impact BIPOC communities.
The story of Juneteenth and the history of Black and African American homeownership are deeply intertwined. Homeownership signifies financial freedom, generational wealth-building, and autonomy, but history shows that government and real estate professionals have unjustly denied homeownership to Black communities for decades. City infrastructure, the rates at which our properties are appraised, and access to financing opportunities all contribute to the racial homeownership gap.
This month, we celebrate our clients’ successes, and remember that our commitment to affordable & accessible housing is key to achieving social and racial justice in the communities we serve. Check out our reading list to learn more about the history of race and housing.
Reading List
“Black Americans and the Racist Architecture of Homeownership” (NPR CodeSw!tch)
Read or listen to this article online, linked here.
“How racism in Richmond’s past and present harms Black homeownership” (VPM )
Read or listen to this article online, linked here.
Books & Reading Lists
The Color of Law: The Forgotten History of How Our Government Segregated America by Richard Rothstein
The National Museum of African American History & Culture Juneteenth Reading List
Harvard University Press Juneteenth Reading List