Project Home

Becoming a home owner is a lifelong dream for many. However, for some this dream has been put on hold due to past legal problems. And this is where a program called Project Home steps in.

Project Home, which was started by the U.S. Probation Office in the Eastern District of Missouri, is a program designed to provide information to ex-offenders on owning a home. An added bonus is that while federal probation and parole officers serve as mentors, no taxpayer dollars are subsidizing the home purchases.

In addition to the probation and parole officers, other partners such as US Bank, Realty Executives and United Land Title Co. in Cape Girardeau donate their time to help to help these individuals through the homebuying process.

"Now that we've got the home, we want to do everything we can to take care of it and keep it. It's an indescribable feeling," said Robert Eckert, an ex-offender, who along with his wife bought their first home in October 2009.

There's no question that homeownership gives individuals a sense of pride and accomplishment. However, in light of the housing crash in recent years, it's important that prospective homebuyers -- whether an ex-offender or not -- be financially ready for the responsibility of owning a home. This is why having the guidance of Project Home volunteers is so important.

Congratulations to the ex-offenders who have put themselves in an opportunity to own a home. And thank you to all the Project Home volunteers who have helped make these individuals' dreams a reality.