Former Longtime NYCHA Resident Living Her Dream as New Co-op Homeowner
Winifred Jonas’ birthday this past December was topped off with a set of new house keys.
Making it even more special, these keys unlocked the door to her newly purchased apartment at Soundview Park Townhomes, an affordable housing community in the Bronx. For Ms. Jonas, a native of Guyana who previously lived at Brooklyn’s Kingsborough Houses for 15 years, becoming a first-time homeowner in New York City was the fulfillment of a longtime dream.
“I’m not asking for anything else, and I didn’t need a birthday gift because that was it,” she stated. “Words can’t explain the feeling; even now I’m pinching myself, because I can’t believe it happened. I’m overwhelmed because this was my hope and dream, and I don’t know if I want to cry or scream.”
Having officially moved in two weeks after closing, Ms. Jonas was enthusiastic in describing her new one-bedroom apartment as beautiful (with nice sunlight exposure), spacious (including lots of closet space), and most of all, clean. The home is complete with energy-efficient, stainless-steel appliances; a washer, dryer, and dishwasher; and in-unit heating and cooling.
“I have all the amenities I can ask for,” noted Ms. Jonas, a City transit cleaner who emigrated to New York in 1999. “Owning this home is a miracle and something I always wanted to happen for me.”
Winifred Jonas is delighted to enjoy the comforts of her new “spacious” home in the Bronx’s Soundview neighborhood.
Path to Homeownership
The journey from her former Kingsborough Houses apartment to owner of a Soundview Park cooperative unit started thanks to an email she received earlier in 2025, seeking NYCHA residents who were interested in an affordable homeownership opportunity in the Bronx’s Soundview neighborhood. The email, sent from NYCHA’s Office of Resident Economic Empowerment and Sustainability (REES), encouraged residents hoping to apply for available one-bedroom or two-bedroom units to join an information session and attend an open house to learn more.
Soundview Park Townhomes is a 72-unit cooperative community featuring 10 garden-style buildings constructed on a former NYCHA parking lot site. The new apartments were designed to be affordable to households earning between 75 to 80 percent of the area median income, and NYCHA residents receive preference for 25 percent of the units. The homeownership opportunity is a collaboration between developer Lemle & Wolff, Avante Contracting Corp., and Neighborhood Restore Housing Development Fund Corporation. The project was funded in part by the NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development’s Open Door program, which funds the new construction of cooperative and condominium buildings affordable to moderate and middle-income households.
After reviewing the email and attending a subsequent info session hosted by REES and program partners, Ms. Jonas knew she was immediately ready to pursue the multi-step process to eventually purchase an available one-bedroom apartment at Soundview Park.
“I said, ‘I’m going to go for it,’ and I’m so happy that I did,” she recalled, adding that she also received some encouragement from her daughter.
Project Coordinator Fatima Lundy said REES and partners presented six virtual info sessions throughout the year, which informed residents of the application process and the various requirements to qualify as a homeowner, including having 5 percent of the purchase price for a down payment. Out of 184 residents who attended the sessions, 172 residents applied for the opportunity. Among the responsibilities, applicants must submit required documents, meet with the program director, select an attorney, and complete a homebuyer education course.
“The information session was very helpful, because I didn’t know anything about being a homeowner,” Ms. Jonas said. “I learned a lot from that, and it helped me along the way so that I was able to understand the process.”
Ms. Lundy noted that Ms. Jonas “took a lot of initiative” when applying and followed through on all requirements, enabling her to succeed in becoming a first-time homebuyer less than six months after first learning about the opportunity.
“For her to achieve the homeownership goal for herself, it’s a rewarding experience to witness,” Ms. Lundy said. “We want to help as many NYCHA residents as we can to have the chance to achieve that goal.”
To those who may feel overwhelmed during the homebuying process, or think that owning a home is a long shot due to their age or financial situation, Ms. Jonas offered some words of encouragement: “I tell people that it’s never too late. When you feel like that, don’t give up; just keep pressing on, and that’s what I did.”
Home Sweet Home
At the Soundview Park Townhomes, adjacent to the Bronx River, residents have access to nearby park and play spaces, including various recreation amenities. Ms. Jonas has just begun to settle into the area after decades of living in Brooklyn. Calling the neighborhood “peaceful,” she is proud of her new home and believes it’s already making a difference in her life.
It may have taken more than 25 years after she first moved to New York, but Ms. Jonas held firm to the belief that her dream of homeownership in the city would someday be possible.
“I never doubt myself; I always tell myself what I believe in, and I knew that one day it was going to happen because I believed it,” she concluded.
To learn more about affordable homeownership opportunities, visit opportunitynycha.org, or call the REES hotline at (718) 289-8100.