New mortgage readiness tool, lending facility, neighborhood reinvestment,
and 100th home purchase underscore momentum in Toledo
As LadderUp Housing celebrates several major milestones—including its 100th home purchase, a new lending facility, and the public launch of its mortgage readiness tool—community partners Directions Credit Union and Louisville Title are highlighting the collaboration helping more Toledo families achieve homeownership.
LadderUp Housing is a Toledo-based organization helping residents become mortgage-ready and move from renting to owning homes in the neighborhoods where they already live, work, and build their lives.
LadderUp Housing recently purchased its 100th home, marking a significant milestone in the organization’s ongoing efforts to expand housing access in Toledo. In addition, LadderUp closed on a new lending facility on July 1, further strengthening its ability to support future home purchases.
The organization has also launched its mortgage readiness tool publicly after onboarding current clients and signing its first employer partner, who will offer the tool to employees as a new financial wellness benefit. The tool is designed to help more people understand what it takes to prepare for homeownership and take concrete steps toward buying a home.
In another sign of local reinvestment, renovations are set to begin soon on a home in Toledo’s Englewood neighborhood using Directions Credit Union funds. The area has been identified by the City of Toledo as a neighborhood where additional investment is being encouraged, making the project part of a broader effort to support revitalization and homeownership in the city.
“We’re fortunate to work with community partners who share our belief that homeownership can be a catalyst for stability, opportunity, and neighborhood reinvestment,” said Tom Voutsos, founder and CEO of LadderUp Housing. “Directions Credit Union and Louisville Title have been important partners in helping us create real pathways for families to move from renting to owning and to stay rooted in the communities they love.”
“LadderUp Housing is creating a practical, thoughtful pathway to homeownership for families who may have thought it was out of reach,” said Barry Shaner, President and CEO of Directions Credit Union. “We’re proud to support work that not only helps people buy homes, but also strengthens neighborhoods and creates long-term stability for families across Toledo.”
“Homeownership is part of the American Dream, but for many families, the path isn’t always straightforward,” said Jen Burnor of Louisville Title. “That’s why we’re grateful to stand alongside LadderUp Housing as they help more families become mortgage-ready, purchase homes, and put down deeper roots in the neighborhoods they already call home.”
For residents participating in the program, the impact is personal.
“Before LadderUp Housing, I was nervous about the idea of homeownership because I wasn’t sure it was possible for me,” said a LadderUp Housing resident. “Working with my coaches has helped me understand my credit, create a budget, and build a plan that’s bringing me closer to owning the home I’m living in. For the first time, I can truly picture myself becoming a homeowner.”
Together, Directions Credit Union, Louisville Title, and LadderUp Housing are demonstrating how community partnerships can expand access to homeownership while strengthening neighborhoods across Toledo.
For more information about Directions Credit Union, visit https://directionscu.org/.
For more information about Louisville Title, visit https://louisvilletitle.com/.
For more information about LadderUp Housing, visit https://www.ladderuphousing.com/.
LadderUp Housing is a Toledo-based nonprofit organization working to expand access to homeownership by helping individuals and families become mortgage-ready and achieve long-term housing stability. Through community partnerships, financial education, home rehabilitation, and innovative homeownership pathways, LadderUp Housing helps residents build wealth, strengthen neighborhoods, and create lasting roots in the communities they call home.