FOR the beneficiaries of the National Housing Trust (NHT) Vineyard Town Apartments in St Andrew, becoming a homeowner is much more than a personal accomplishment many hailed the moment as a catalyst to building and maintaining generational wealth within their families.

When 23-year-old Jodi-Ann Trevelen held the keys to her new apartment for the first time, she could not tell if she was dreaming or awake. She expressed to the Jamaica Observer that becoming her family’s youngest and sole homeowner felt entirely surreal.

“It doesn’t feel real, I’m standing here and I still have to be like, ‘Wait a minute, this is actually happening’”, said Trevelen, who was speaking at the handover ceremony for 14 studio apartments at 2A Central Avenue and 7 Third Avenue last Wednesday.

Wrapped in the embrace of her mother Joan Cummings, Trevelen admitted that the road was not easy; after an initial rejection, a twist of fate saw her being reselected and her dreams fulfilled.

“Truthfully, the process was bumpy. We were initially rejected; however, there was a reselection and luckily we were successful after that, and I think, right now, it’s just a little bit of disbelief right now,” she said.

Trevelen extended her gratitude to her mother, who, she said, paved the way to help her achieve her goal, noting that she helped with her qualification under the NHT’s Parent Assist programme.

Under the initiative, young Jamaicans are able to boost their borrowing power by using their parents’ unused benefits or by combining their points, which qualifies applicants to access 100 per cent financing on specific NHT schemes, with no deposit required.

“For mommy to really open that door for me by assisting me with her points, that means the world to me and now there is a home that my daughter can also call a home,” she said.

For Trevelen, the dream of owning a home was sparked by her own ambition, but it was made real through her mother’s sacrifices — a combined effort to ensure their descendants would always have a place to stand.

“Generational wealth is definitely there, and for right now it’s going to be shared between mommy and daughter,” she said.

Another excited new homeowner was Renée Rittie, who described the moment as life-changing.

“I’m very proud, this is an occasion that will last a lifetime because you hear about NHT and you’ll say, ‘I don’t think I can’, but today proves that I can and I did, and I am happy,” she said.

While acknowledging that the process was somewhat tedious, she told the Sunday Observer that she would do it all again if it meant that she was able to accomplish her lifelong dream of becoming a homeowner.

Beneficiary of the National Housing Trust (NHT) Vineyard Town Apartments Renée Rittie (centre) accepts the key to her new home from Member of Parliament for St Andrew South Eastern Julian Robinson (right). Her son, Theodore Lee shares the proud moment at the handover ceremony for 14 studio apartments at 2A Central Avenue and 7 Third Avenue last Wednesday. (Photos: Garfield Robinson)

“I have been working in government service for 33 years and I see this as my prize. Being a government worker, I didn’t think it would be possible to become a low-income homeowner, so I am happy,” she said.

Rittie emphasised that this achievement, ultimately, meant her family was blessed with a place to call home.

“It’s a joy, because mother becomes a homeowner which, you know, children become the next owners, so it’s a joy,” she said.

Her son Theodore Lee, who stood next to her, holding her hand and beaming with evident elation, also chimed in, congratulating his mother for her hard work in securing her first home.

“It’s a definite momentous occasion and I am super proud of my mother. I know how hard she works and I couldn’t be happier for her so it’s definitely a step in the right direction for generations to come,” said Lee.

Beneficiary Maurice Dixon was also a happy homeowner at the handover ceremony, telling the Sunday Observer that the accomplishment has been his dream throughout his 35 years of life.

“From ever since I’ve been chasing generational wealth, so it will pass down. I can’t explain the feeling. It’s a great feeling and I’m ready to continue the journey and continue doing the right thing,” said Dixon.

He shared that the process was seamless because he had help from experienced and reliable staff at the NHT, and encouraged others not to shy away from applying.

“It was easy; I had a great representative and she took me through, step by step, with the process. It was enjoyable and pretty simple,” he said.

The Vineyard Town Apartments, priced at $15 million and spanning 430 square feet, were earmarked primarily for low-income contributors, designed to help Jamaicans — particularly young adults under the age of 36 — enter the housing market as part of the trust’s starter home programme.

In the meantime, assistant general manager for corporate communications and public affairs at the NHT, Dwayne Berbick, who was the master of ceremonies, offered kind words and advice to the new homeowners.

“This is an investment, you have to protect it. Homeownership is a journey, so it doesn’t stop here. My encouragement to them is that you have to ensure that you protect that investment that you’ve made. You take care of the property. You live good with your neighbours, work together, of course, pay your maintenance fees to keep the property up to date, paint it when it needs to be painted. Don’t make it go bad,” said Berbick.