Making Dreams Come True

“My dream is to buy a house.”

When Garden Spot Communities unveiled a new employee value proposition in February 2023, team members were asked to share their dreams. More than one team member shared a desire to purchase a home.

Garden Spot Communities’ human resources team began to explore what it might be like to help team members fulfill this dream. Six months after unveiling the value proposition, Human Resources Director Bryan Groff shared the Employer Assisted Housing Program.

Bryan says, “We know that for many team members, owning a home is a dream, and we want to help fulfill that dream. We have partnered with Tenfold, a local recognized leader in housing services to help administer the program.”

Tenfold’s infrastructure and experienced representatives help employees through the stressful homebuying process.

Through the program, employees who work for Garden Spot Communities for at least one year, are eligible to apply for up to $20,000 in downpayment assistance toward the purchase of a home.

Qualifications to participate included:

1. Employees must be first-time homebuyers (or have not owned a home in the last three years)
2. Employees must successfully complete the Tenfold Homebuyer course prior to being eligible
3. Employees must use the forgivable loan for downpayment or closing cost assistance for a primary residence
4. During the five-year forgiveness period, the employee must continue to live in the home and work for Garden Spot Communities during that time.
5. Employees can apply for up to $10,000 towards the purchase of a home; up to $20,000 if the home they want to purchase is in New Holland Borough

Several employees quickly began to work through the program, with home ownership now in sight.

Matt Stoltzfus, director of facility services at Garden Spot Village, and his fiancée Morgan Lanser, dining services manager for Sodexo at Garden Spot Village, participated in the program in the spring of 2024 and moved into their new home June 1.

“I was thankful for this program when homeownership suddenly became a possibility for us,” Matt says. It provided a downpayment when we otherwise would have needed to walk away from a really good opportunity.”

He adds, “I’ve always been a proponent of our people-positive initiatives. I always want to take care of the people who take care of the people who live at Garden Spot Village. To be the beneficiary of this program was really cool. I really hope it continues to be something team members will benefit from.”

“It made all the difference for us,” Morgan adds.