Nikita Lindsey spent much of her life living in public housing. Along the way, she learned an important truth: where you begin doesn’t have to define where you end up.

Growing up in Housing Authority of the City of Asheville (HACA) housing, Nikita Lindsey always dreamed of becoming a homeowner.

After graduating from high school, she began working at Mission Hospital while she got her own HACA apartment. As Lindsey built her career and raised her daughter, her dream of homeownership took on new meaning. It wasn’t just about buying a house—it was about building a stronger future for her family.

“I wanted more for my daughter,” she says. “I wanted her to have the same opportunities as everyone else.”

With her daughter in mind, Lindsey enrolled in HACA’s Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) Program, a voluntary five-year initiative that helps families build financial stability.

Working alongside an FSS coordinator, Lindsey set goals that would move her closer to homeownership, including improving her credit, earning her driver’s license, and completing homebuyer education classes. As she reached those milestones, a portion of her rent was set aside in an escrow savings account for future use.

Throughout the journey, Lindsey’s daughter was watching. As her mother checked off one goal after another, she drew a picture of the home she hoped they would one day own, a reminder of what they were working toward together.

In 2022, after decades of dreaming, Lindsey purchased a home through the Asheville-Buncombe Community Land Trust. The drawing had become reality.

Today, Lindsey serves as assistant site manager at Hillcrest Apartments, one of HACA’s communities. In her role, she encourages residents to explore opportunities like the Family Self-Sufficiency Program, which helps residents set and work toward financial goals, and shares her own journey to show that homeownership is within reach.

Of course, she knows the journey takes hard work, commitment, and a willingness to ask for help. But she also knows firsthand how life-changing those efforts can be.

“Anything is possible if you believe in yourself, make a plan, and stick with it,” she says.