Shannon Cortigine,
Interim Executive Director

648 Buena Vista Drive
Kennett Square, PA 19348

Phone: (610) 925-1880
Fax: (610) 925-1884

E-mail Shannon

County Served: Chester

Incorporated: 1994

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photo courtesy of ABH

SUCCESS STORY

In the late 1980's, farmworkers Ruben Gaytan, his wife Graciela, and their five children, ages 5 to 17, immigrated from Mexico to Southern Chester County. For 3 years, the seven Gaytans lived in a two-bedroom trailer in a rundown trailer park. They endured cold winters, a leaky roof, and frequent plumbing problems.

Through friends, the Gaytans found Alliance for Better Homes (ABH). The organization provided the family with assistance to move to a four-bedroom townhome in Buena Vista in 1999. Buena Vista is a community developed by ABH and built - at cost - by America's largest luxury homebuilder, Toll Bros. ABH also helped make the home affordable by securing a low-interest USDA loan for the Gaytans, making their monthly payment only $615.

Given their low mortgage payments, the Gaytans have financial flexibility. Ruben and Graciela were even able to send Janet, their oldest child, to college. Ruben also recently became a United States citizen. "I realized that since my family is here, and we own a home here, we are here to stay. This is where we belong now."