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 she’s turned that sense of possibility into a plan — one that will soon give her 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’s Project LIFT.
The pilot program helps families and single parents move toward long-term stability and homeownership. Rachel learned about the opportunity during a home visit with United Way partner agency Every Child Succeeds.
“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. But after learning more from her case worker, she applied for one of Project LIFT’s Individual Development Accounts. Through a partnership with the City of Cincinnati, they match participants’ dollars at a rate of $15 for every $1 deposit.
Rachel also said she appreciates what she’s learning through the program. She and other future homeowners connected with instructors to guide them step by step. “They are focused on educating you and setting you up for success,” Rachel said.
She also meets regularly with advisors from United Way funded partner Santa Maria Community Services to stay on track financially. “They help go over a budget once a month and make sure I’m on track with the deposits.”
One of the biggest lessons, Rachel said, is how to save with intention. “It helps with saving money. I know that’s kind of like a basic thing, but it’s a lot harder said than done.” Beyond money, the program has built confidence. “There’s a lot of support and opportunity for first-time home buyers. People want you to get a house.”
Now nearing the end of the 18-month program, Rachel looks to turn some of the real estate listings she’s been daydreaming about on her phone into tangible offers. “Within the next year, we’re supposed to be finishing up the program and then moving into the next step of actually getting a house.”
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.”
