Rachel Heil has made the west side of Cincinnati her home for more than three decades — but in all that time, she said the thought of owning the place she lived felt out of reach.
“I’ve rented for so long. I just want a house,” Rachel said. “I was scrolling through listings and daydreaming, honestly.” Now, thanks in part to support from United Way, she’s turned that sense of possibility into a plan — one that will lead to a place to truly call home, along with her 2-year-old daughter Peyton.
Rachel calls her little girl the center of her world. Their everyday life revolves around going to daycare and getting Peyton ready to enter kindergarten. Most of Rachel’s family has moved away — her parents live in Texas, and her sister in Washington — but she found connection and support through United Way.
Together with its partners, United Way works to encourage financial empowerment and housing security.
“I had just started a new job and just had a baby recently, so there were other things coming first, and the house dream kind of got slowly put on the back burner,” she said.
Rachel has benefited from financial coaching coordinated by United Way. “They are focused on educating you and setting you up for success,” Rachel said.
She’s been able to save with intention. “I know that’s kind of like a basic thing, but it’s a lot easier said than done.”
For Rachel, homeownership represents safety, stability and opportunity for Peyton. “It would mean having our own little safe place. I want to move into a better neighborhood, especially for her. And better schools — that means better education, better future. It’s super exciting. It’s the next chapter of our lives.”
