Nationwide — Bridgette Spikes, a 54-year-old African American grandmother from Victorville, California, was very grateful last year when she finally became a homeowner after decades of renting. Spikes, who is a single mother, applied for a Section 8 housing voucher years ago, which helped her move toward financial independence.
With the help of the Section 8 program, Spikes was able to reduce her reliance on federal aid, increase her income, and save up for a down payment. This journey eventually led her to homeownership, where she can now live with her grandchildren.
“Sometimes pinch yourself, is it really happening? It’s really real. It’s just a blessing. It’s a happy-sad occasion, so many people have gone on that I would have just loved to have shared this moment with them,” Spikes told Spectrum News.
Deputy Executive Director of the Long Beach Housing Authority, Alison King, praised Spikes’ determination.
“There are families that you know really lean on the subsidy and rely on it in such a way that it’s kind of scary to not have it, so she’s very courageous in what she has done,” King said.
Spikes, who used to live in a smaller rental in Long Beach, moved to Victorville to find a more affordable home that offers more space and stability. While the new home is farther from her job, Spikes is willing to make the sacrifice for the chance to own her own property.
“I don’t never want my grandchildren… to ever be homeless,” Spikes said.
