From Homeless to Homeowner

For nearly three years, Agnes Belk started and ended each day with the same quiet determination: take care of her family, do her job well and keep believing she could become a homeowner — even when that seemed impossible.

A longtime employee with Duval County Public Schools, she had spent decades serving students, teachers and families. A records clerk known for her compassion and dedication, she loved her work, her church family and — most of all — her grandchildren, Amani, 3, and Agape, 6.

But in 2023, life took a very unexpected turn.

When Caring for Family Meant Losing Her Home

That year, Belk made a difficult choice — voluntarily giving up her apartment to move in with her aunt, who needed daily care. When her aunt passed away, Belk suddenly found herself without a place to live.

For months, she and her two young grandchildren shuttled between hotels. Each week became a balancing act between work, childcare, and trying to stretch every dollar for hotel fees and food. She shared her situation only with a few trusted coworkers.

Despite the challenges, she kept going — caring for her grandkids, working at the school she loved, singing and teaching at Fresh Start Ministries, and praying for a way forward.

“I just kept speaking it,” she said. “I kept saying, ‘I am going to have a house. I am going to have a place for my babies. I am tired of giving my money away in rent.’ I believed God would make a way.”

‘Lord, I Need Your Help Right Now’

Overwhelmed by the strain of hotel living, Belk bowed her head one afternoon in 2025 at her desk and prayed: “Lord, I need your help right now.”

When she looked up at her computer, she noticed a flyer in her email inbox — an announcement about grant money for first-time homebuyers in the Jacksonville, Florida, area sent by Regions Mortgage Loan Officer Moses Henry.

Belk clicked on the flyer and immediately called the number she read.

“You’re my guardian angel,” she told Henry when he answered — and laughed through tears. “I just prayed for help to find a permanent place to live.”

Henry responded the way he responds to every customer: with patience, warmth and a commitment to help build financial confidence through homeownership.

He asked Belk to complete the application and, by Monday, called to deliver the news: she was approved!

Guidance, Encouragement and the Right Resources

From that day forward, Henry became a steady ally in Belk’s corner. So did real estate agent, Christopher Cooper. Together, they walked her through each step of the mortgage process — including accessing Jacksonville’s Head Start to Homeownership (H2H) program.

While the money and education helped, Belk said, what mattered even more was Henry’s encouragement.

“Moses kept telling me, ‘Don’t give up. Don’t get frustrated,’ ” Belk recalled. “He said, ‘We’re going to make it through this. If you believe you can do it — I believe in you, too.’”

Some days proved harder than others. She fought to maintain temporary housing, keep her grandchildren safe and meet the financial requirements needed to stay on track for the mortgage.

Every time she wanted to quit, Henry and Cooper reminded her she wasn’t alone in her homeownership journey.

“That’s what kept me going — knowing they were walking alongside me and that everything would work for my good,” she said.

Henry said Regions’ mortgage officers are specially trained to help customers like Belk overcome barriers to homeownership. They have access to special loan programs, know how to lower barriers to entry like credit scores and down payments, have local market expertise and take an education-focused approach.

“When paired with affordable mortgage products (FHA, VA, USDA and community lending programs), down payment assistance doesn’t just help someone buy a home — it helps ensure they can sustain homeownership over time without being overburdened,” Henry said.

“This is exactly why our collaboration with housing agencies is so important and why we emphasize these programs for those with low-to-moderate incomes: they improve access and affordability.”

Find a Mortgage Loan Officer in your area to learn more about possible down payment assistance in your area.

This is exactly why our collaboration with housing agencies is so important and why we emphasize these programs for those with low-to-moderate incomes: they improve access and affordability.
Moses Henry, Regions Mortgage Loan Officer

The Moment Everything Changed

Belk’s homeownership journey ended March 2, 2026.

She fought the urge to pinch herself when she stood in front of her new house on Jacksonville’s Westside, to make sure it wasn’t a dream. The house is in exactly the area she wanted, close to work and without long commutes or bridges.

Cooper placed the keys in her hand.

“I felt like it was surreal,” Belk said of the moment. “I told myself, ‘It’s really happening. God provided the desires of my heart.’”

Inside, she walked from room-to-room with Amani and Agape, still in amazement. Henry called to congratulate her while she was exploring, and she said hearing his voice that day “was the icing on the cake.”

Today, Belk said the whole house is her favorite part of the property — though she loves the big backyard where her grandchildren now have room to run and play.

A Home That Builds More Than Stability

Becoming a homeowner is about much more than achieving a lifelong dream for Belk. It’s about building a legacy.

“Being a homeowner means I have something to leave for my grandchildren and my son,” she said. “They won’t ever have to worry about having a place to live.”

She believes everyone should have the chance to experience that security.

“No one walks around saying, ‘I want to be homeless,’” she said. “Everyone deserves a place of their own.”

A First-time Homeowner’s Advice: How to Go From Renting to Owning

“Once you have the mindset that you’re ready to step out of renting and into ownership, all things are possible,” she said.