Local programs help young Spokane couple achieve homeownership dream

SPOKANE, Wash. — Quintel and Mia Harris are preparing their nursery for the arrival of their first baby girl in the coming weeks—in a home they own.

At 22 years old, the couple purchased their home a year ago with help from local organizations dedicated to expanding homeownership opportunities.

Without that assistance, Mia Harris said the couple would have delayed starting their family. “I think if we didn’t have this opportunity, we probably wouldn’t be starting a family right now,” she said. “We’d be more focused on just saving money, so I think this is a great opportunity for us and it’s a blessing.”

For many first-time homebuyers, financial barriers and knowledge gaps make homeownership feel out of reach. In Spokane, local coalitions are working to change that reality, particularly for young families and underrepresented communities.

Black Home Ownership Spokane operates as a coalition of local organizations, including Habitat for Humanity and the Carl-Maxey Center. The group partners with Take Up the Cause to provide education on budgeting, paying off debt, and affording a down payment.

Chauncey Jones, executive director of Take Up the Cause, says the program’s strength lies in building confidence alongside financial knowledge. “It doesn’t end with them getting keys to a home every time,” Jones said. “But they have the keys to the next steps and so I think that’s the important piece of the education is changing that mindset from ‘this can’t happen’ to ‘I know it can happen, its just a matter of time for me.'”

For Quintel Harris, homeownership provides stability as his family grows. “Knowing that we have a safe, stable place to bring our baby back, possibly in the next few weeks is phenomenal,” he said.

The Harris family’s success is not isolated. Approximately 40 families have already purchased homes through the program, with more than 150 others currently working toward homeownership. As the Harris family welcomes their daughter into their own home, they represent a growing number of young Spokane residents turning the American dream of homeownership into reality.