Fernando Esquivel-Suarez arrived in Atlanta from Colombia two decades ago, never expecting the city to become his “forever home.” Today, he’s a dedicated Professor of English and Ethnic Studies at Spelman College, a role he’s held for 13 years.
His journey to Atlanta began with his pursuit of Master’s and Ph.D. degrees at Emory University, but it was his job at Spelman that ultimately rooted him in the city. Being a Spelman faculty member also allowed him to find his home through Westside Future Fund’s signature program – Home on the Westside.
“I learned about the program because I received an email [at work],” Fernando recalled. “I attended a meeting [with Westside Future Fund], and they explained very thoroughly what the program was and how it could benefit Spelman employees.”
A first-time homeowner, Fernando has deeply enjoyed his new home since moving in a year and a half ago. Like many Atlantan renters, he’d had many stays across the city, including residences in Buckhead, Druid Hills, Virginia-Highlands, Edgewood, and the West End. The Westside, he’s discovered, offers the most convenience, especially as he’s just minutes from his workplace and other ease-of-access amenities.
From the start of his home search to finding his current residence, the process took just six months.
“One of the greatest advantages of this program is the down payment. It’s an amount that would be difficult for some folks to have all at once, particularly those in very relevant, socially relevant professions like academia that don’t have a very high income. They were very diligently putting together grants and making sure I had a very substantial down payment to help me with the mortgage.”
With the help of Westside Future Fund, Fernando was able to receive approximately $100,000 in grants to secure his down payment. Now, he’s the proud owner of a three bedroom, two bathroom home in English Avenue — a community he hopes to stay in for years to come.
Learn more about how you can find your Home on the Westside at www.homeonthewestside.com.