Thirteen years ago, Fanny Ortiz and her husband, Martin, were a young couple living with a dream that felt impossible: buying their first home. They were expecting their second child and doing everything right—working hard, saving money—but still, they were turned away at every door. Realtors looked at their credit and laughed. Banks wouldn’t give them a chance. The message was clear: families like theirs weren’t meant to own homes in Brooklyn.

Then one day, in the most unexpected place—a neighborhood park—hope arrived. A stranger told Mrs. Ortiz about NHSNYC’s and its first-time homebuyer program. She took a leap of faith and walked through NHSNYC’s doors. What she found wasn’t just a program—it was a lifeline.

Through credit restoration, homebuyer education, and unwavering support, NHSNYC gave the Ortiz’s the tools to achieve what they were told was impossible: they bought a home in Crown Heights, Brooklyn. “If it hadn’t been for NHSNYC, I would still be renting,” Mrs. Ortiz says. “They believed in me when no one else did. And they taught me how to believe in myself.”

But life brings challenges. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Mr. Ortiz lost his job. Then a devastating storm tore through their roof. FEMA gave them $1,000—far short of the $30,000 needed for repairs. The future of their home was once again uncertain.

And once again, NHSNYC showed up.

Through Project HELP, NHSNYC connected the Ortiz’s to a grant that made the critical repairs possible. Their roof was fixed. Their home was safe. Their hope was restored.

“Homeownership isn’t easy,” Mrs. Ortiz says. “You have to choose between paying bills or making repairs. Sometimes you’re forced to choose between comfort and safety. NHSNYC was there for us—every single time.”

Mrs. Ortiz knows what it’s like to be overlooked. That’s why she speaks out for others—especially seniors—who are quietly losing their homes because they don’t know where to turn. “People don’t believe in grants,” she says. “But NHSNYC helped me believe in something more important: myself.”

Today, the Ortiz’s are proud first-generation Latino homeowners. Their house isn’t just a roof over their heads—it’s a place where their family thrives. Her son, Divine, now 26, and her husband bonded over renovations. Her daughter, Heaven, now 13, plays in the yard where tomatoes grow under her mother’s care. And their story inspired Mrs. Ortiz’s sister to become a homeowner, too.

Because of NHSNYC, the Ortiz’s built more than a home—they built a legacy.