Richmond residents looking for a path to homeownership amidst rising costs and federal housing cuts can seize a new opportunity starting Friday, March 21. The Neighborhood Association Corporation of America (NACA) is bringing its Achieve the Dream event back to the city, offering critical resources and support for those aiming to secure a home.

The three-day event will be held at Virginia Union University, and marks the second time the housing nonprofit has been hosted by the college. With Richmond’s history of high rents and evictions, as well as job losses and cuts to housing programs on the federal level, NACA Founder and CEO Bruce Marks sees a great opportunity for many in need.

“I think people have gotten beaten down and they’ve lost hope and are losing hope, and particularly with these cutbacks, people think that whatever hope there was out there is gone,” Marks said. “People … have an obligation to themselves, their family and those around them to come to this event because they have everything to gain and absolutely nothing to lose.”

The events are part of NACA’s efforts to make homeownership more accessible and are held once or twice a month, according to Marks.

Event attendees will go through a four-step home-buying process, which includes a  homebuyer workshop, personalized counseling, and mortgage qualification. The goal is for participants to leave the event fully qualified for NACA’s “Best in America Mortgage” and ready to start their housing search.

Key to NACA’s approach to mortgage programs is a focus on financial readiness from applicants without factoring in credit scores. NACA’s mortgage includes no down payments, fees, closing costs or private mortgage insurance and fixed, below-market interest rates.

NACA also has partnered with the Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority for this year’s event to provide the option for Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher holders to apply their rental assistance toward mortgage payments.

This would give voucher holders the opportunity to transition from housing rentals to homeownership, while RRHA would “recycle” vouchers to someone else in need.

“This partnership would end residents’ dependency on public assistance” RRHA CEO Steven Nesmith stated in a press release. “Public housing families and those with a Section 8 voucher can now achieve the dream of affordable homeownership, build wealth and ultimately become self-sufficient.”

Each event day will run from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., though assistance will continue beyond the official hours if needed.

“We don’t turn anybody away,” Marks said. “We’ll work until the last person, which could be at 10 p.m. or midnight.”

Marks anticipates thousands will attend, based on previous events. NACA is prepared with more than 100 staff members on site, along with an additional 200 counselors available nationwide for virtual support.

After the event concludes Sunday, those who have completed the four-step process or are still working through it will receive continued support through NACA’s Richmond office.

Those interested in attending can sign up at NACA.com, though walk-ups also are welcome.

For more information, call the NACA hotline at 425-602-6222.