Dorie Simmons

Dorie Simmons

Dorie Simmons was attending college and raising three children when she was selected for the IDA program, which she learned about through her participation in CAP's free Earned Income Tax Credit program.

Once involved in the IDA program, she enrolled her youngest son in CAP's Head Start program.Dorie was then elected to represent her son's school on the Head Start Policy Council, and it wasn't long before she was elected president of the Council.At the same time, she joined CAP's board of directors, a position she held until October 2005.

"I always knew I would be a homeowner," she says."The IDA program provided me with a way to learn about credit.I went to classes about financing a home, as well as how to maintain a home.After 2 years of saving, I was able to purchase my first home, and I moved in using only my IDA money.I was fortunate that every dollar I saved was matched by two dollars from the IDA program."

Dorie still owns that first home, but after 5 years it was time to upgrade, so she purchased a second home and "we still live there today."

"Not only did the IDA program put me on the right track toward improving my credit and homeownership," she says, "but the knowledge that I gained about managing money was invaluable."