The Peralta family of five visited Allentown at the suggestion of a good friend who bought his house from Alliance for Building Communities (ABC.) The Peraltas liked what they saw and quickly made an appointment to consult with ABC staff. With that visit, their journey quickly began, taking them from a tiny two-bedroom apartment in Brooklyn to a large five-bedroom single-family home in the City of Allentown.

ABC's housing counselor determined that the family was qualified to participate in the same program from which their friend had purchased his home, the Doorway to Homeownership program for first-time homebuyers of low-to-moderate-income. After completing all the required steps, the Peraltas were able to purchase one of ABC's newly-rehabilitated homes in the historic center city area of the City of Allentown.

At a recent visit to their five-bedroom, 2,714 square foot home, ABC staff saw first-hand that the Peralta family has turned their new house into a family home. Each of the three children has a bedroom of their own. The youngest, Jasmin, is happy to have a room all to herself where she can display her stuffed animals and a doll collection. The children have also settled into their new schools and the oldest, Diego, looks forward to entering high school and trying out for the baseball team.

Their new home is so large that even Mr. Peralta, an accomplished painter, has a space of his own that he has dedicated to his craft. He has transformed a huge, brightly-lit room at the top of the house into his very own art studio.

Mrs. Peralta expressed how grateful she is and, before the staff visit ended, she said, "ABC is an excellent business, with a really good program and good people who helped us buy our home." With a wide grin she exclaimed, "I love my new big house in Allentown!"