OAK ASSET PARTNERS

In life's unpredictable symphony, occasionally, a call comes through that whispers destiny, not just for the caller but also for the receiver. This story begins with one such call that reminded me that we are sometimes uniquely positioned to be the answer to others' prayers.

The phone ring broke the silence of an ordinary day. On the other end, a voice, matter of fact yet laden with hopeful anticipation, presented me with a question that would soon alter the course of my life. "I have a person whose Section 8 Voucher has come up, and they need a property. Do you know of any available houses in the metropolitan area?"

For those unfamiliar, the Housing Choice Voucher Program, managed by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), plays a pivotal role in aiding very low-income families, the elderly, and the disabled in accessing decent, safe, and sanitary housing within the private market—a beacon of hope for many in dire straits.

Approximately 1.6 million families are on public housing waiting lists, and more than 2.8 million are on housing choice voucher (HCV) waiting lists, highlighting the critical demand for these services.

At that moment, my understanding of the HUD program was nonexistent, and why this call reached me was an even bigger mystery.

Yet, as the caller awaited my response, a gentle internal nudge hinted that more might be at play. "Hold that thought, let me call you right back."

Years earlier, my husband and I had toyed with venturing into real estate investments. We sought a divine sign to guide our decision. Ironically, that sign manifested in a rather mundane yet unmistakably clear event—our son, in an innocent act of overenthusiasm, had overflowed his bathtub, causing the need to focus on our own home, which also symbolized that the timing wasn't right. However, this random phone call now seemed like the universe's wink—perhaps the opportune moment had finally presented itself.

Not all opportunities come wrapped in a Tiffany bow, but when something feels inherently right, it merits exploration.

The caller spoke on behalf of a renter who, after a decade in the same dwelling in a not-so-opportune area, sought a new beginning for her children—a transition I felt called to facilitate. The call echoed the belief that sometimes, instead of continuing to pray for intervention, we might be positioned to act as the intervention ourselves. Could this be the sign I had been waiting for?

With my heart racing with possibility, I called my husband. "Honey, I just got a call about someone looking for a rental. Maybe, just maybe, this is our moment to buy our first investment property and become landlords." True to our adventurous spirit, he responded without hesitation, "Let's explore it."

And so, our search began.

Guided by divine inspiration, we launched our new project with urgency and purpose. We constructed a brand-new home in three months.

While many may view this as the beginning of a journey to wealth accumulation, I perceived it as something more profound: my awakening as an agent of social change. This endeavor was an avenue to directly impact lives, alter destinies, and provide tangible hope. Providentially, additional resources arrived. Unbeknownst to me, news of our story spread, leading people to donate furniture cleaning supplies and their time to help turn a house into a home.

This experience underscored a powerful lesson:

In our vast, interconnected world, opportunities to serve and affect change are always around the corner. We must only be willing to answer the call when it comes.

By stepping into the unknown with faith and determination, we can be the miracle someone is praying for. This story isn't merely about real estate investing or becoming landlords; it illustrates how being open to possibilities can turn us into vehicles of positive change in our communities.

I extend this narrative as an invitation to open your hearts and minds to the calls for help that may come your way. Sometimes, the most impactful journeys begin with a simple, unexpected phone call.

With Hope & Purpose…