Home on the Westside

Brandon Teal first got to know the Westside through the people who came into the YMCA. Older members told him what the neighborhood used to look like, how it had changed, and what they loved about it. Their stories made him want to be part of its future, too.

He also wanted the security of owning a home. "I just want to have something that's mine," Brandon says. Renting in Atlanta was expensive, and he started comparing what he paid each month with what a mortgage might cost. As he researched his options and asked leaders at the YMCA for advice, they pointed him toward Westside Future Fund.

Through Home on the Westside, Brandon found a team that made homeownership feel possible. Operation HOPE financial coach Mercedes Settles helped him look closely at his spending, adjust his budget, and prepare for owning a home. He appreciated having someone take the time to build a plan around his goals. "They just had a vision that I could do it," he says. That support continued after closing, as the conversation shifted toward his mortgage, home repairs, and savings for unexpected expenses.