Vanessa Jackson never imagined herself as a homeowner. Even with a full-time job at a local nonprofit, all the moving parts of buying a home felt overwhelming.
That was until Jackson took Benjamin Rose’s homebuyer education courses. Benjamin Rose, a Cleveland, Ohio-based nonprofit founded in 1908, helps aging Americans build the knowledge, skills and access to resources necessary to remain stably housed.
Jackson said the homebuyer education courses she took helped her learn how to navigate obtaining a mortgage, getting homeowners insurance and finding a real estate agent. She described the process as a “miraculous whirlwind.”
“My home is my safe place,” Jackson said. “It is my shelter, a place to express my personality and a hospitable refuge for friends and family.”
The nonprofit offers four pillars of services: home and community-based services, financial wellness, housing and homeownership, and research, education and advocacy. The nonprofit is also a part of NCRC’s Housing Counseling Network.
Benjamin Rose’s programs help improve housing stability at a time when rising housing costs have increased financial stress for aging Ohioans living on fixed incomes. Federal data show that the number of people over the age of 64 becoming homeless in the Cuyahoga County area increased by 14% to 136 people between 2024 and 2025, reflecting the impact of rising housing costs on the region’s elderly population.
Meanwhile, the rising cost of living has made homeownership much more difficult for many to obtain. The homeownership rate in greater Cuyahoga County has steadily increased to 64% from 61% in 2020, meaning more homebuyers are competing for fewer homes.
Redfin also found that Cleveland’s median home price was more than $148,000 in June, representing a greater than 10% climb year-over-year.
Aisha Ibrahim, Benjamin Rose’s HUD-certified homeownership manager, explains that the economic hurdles aging Americans face make Benjamin Rose’s homebuyer education courses that much more valuable.
“It’s important to have a framework of knowing where a person began to be able to really support them to be able to cross that finish line,” Ibrahim said.
The need for Benjamin Rose’s services is also growing as America’s social safety net frays. In 2024, the organization helped more than 5,900 people via its housing and financial wellness programs. For comparison, the organization typically serves up to 3,500 people with the same services during a typical year.
The work Benjamin Rose is doing in Cleveland is made possible with the support of local banks, philanthropic organizations, private donors and key nonprofit partners, such as NCRC. NCRC has helped the organization expand its services by training Benjamin Rose staff on reverse mortgages and financially supporting its programs.
For Jackson, buying a home was a personally transformative experience. She said it has made her more financially responsible and serves as a daily reminder of how blessed she is.
“Taking care of my home and staying healthy so I can work. Those are my priorities,” Jackson said.
Robert Davis is a Contributing Writer.
Photo caption: Benjamin Rose client Vanessa Jackson in front of her new home.
