H2H Home buyers Club Meeting: Tri-County Hallandale

Hear one of HFA's longest H2H Homebuyers Club Members, Darren Jones, speak about his homeownership journey. During H2H Home buyers Club Meeting: Tri-County Hallandale on November 10, 2021.

Transcript

Great evening everyone and first I do want to say to miss Robin and to miss Marilyn that they owe me a house visit. […] I have not seen miss Robin step on the premises. Miss Marilyn has kind of stepped on my premises […] but if my voice is a little bit hoarse it's because one of my coaches resigned at the high school and I could not break the heart of my girls basketball teams; yours truly have taken over and my wife is the assistant coach so on I-95 we actually work at Booker T. Washington Senior High School in Miami. If you know where that's located at downtown Miami, and practice is over at 4:30 so I got to the car at 5 and try to just get here. It is such an honor to be here I’m very very thankful of this time of being able to speak with you. There's actually a proverb that says that “a man's gift maketh room for him and bring him before great men my gift has brought me before great men and women.” 

It has been exactly 10 years in which I actually will share with you the beginning all the way to the new beginning and I'm not going to say to the ending 'cause it still occurring. My wife and I actually have been in the field of education now […] For about going on 29 years. My wife about 25 or so and having been a principal at both middle school in Broward County and then at Hallandale high school. My wife was teaching specifically at the time, and oh boy she will get me if I forgot that little school; it's a middle school. Unfortunately we ran into the challenge of our lives. Unfortunately one of our family members decided to not tell the truth on us regarding a situation with our children to mention that both my wife and I abuse our children. Obviously being a principal and then finding out that both educators were involved it is in this country it is not your innocent until proven guilty it is actually the opposite. And so we didn't know the type of fight that we were informed that we were in for, the fight of our lives, long story short home we were asked to take our children to the clinic and we were very confident to say in this you can take a look at them all over or whatever the case may be. We were very naive I should've immediately had an attorney with me or whatever the case. And they took the oldest back and we noticed she didn’t come back and then the youngest she didn't come back and then my youngest boy at the time. My children were 16, nine, and six. When the kids didn’t come back I was like “that's kind of fishy” They didn’t communicate with us, and they brought Ft. Laderdale Police to the front it was about 5 officers that came to the front and they were like “are you the Jones’?”  and I stood up and then my wife stood and they said “well we are here to tell you that you will not be getting your children back.” and of course my wife you many of you have mothers, almost fell out. And I said “no not here” We had driven separately because we were expecting and go back to our schools we had picked up our children from there. It was probably about 10 or 11 in the morning and so both of us were so distraught there was no way we're gonna be able to drive separately. Oh my and driving away crying just totally shocked regarding the situation. Enroute to go home one of my brothers called and said “do not go to the house there are helicopters flying police are at your house for your arrest, and it kinda of reminded me of obviously of the old OJ saga. I met my brother at undisclosed locations and ensure that my wife will get there safely. I wanted to contact my attorney with him and I surrendered myself, and less than […] probably less than of course I wanted to communicate with my bosses and let them know what had occurred. But within less than a matter of week or so after being reassigned we were told that we wouldn't get our children back which of course within a 6-month period we basically lost everything. From home foreclosed, cars is being repoed. Being on Channel 6, Channel 7, Channel 10, CNN, whatever newspapers: Miami Herald, Sun Sentinel - you name it. And then of course before long we were t-  or I actually was immediately terminated. My wife was placed at a different location and having the tag of having a felony, I knew I could not get employment even at Burger King or McDonald's. And so our kids they kept our kids about 8 1/2 months and we became homeless. Real homeless. First it was the cars and then our ministry in which we are covered now. My wife and I both pastors we are covering you know being very faithful members all our lives. We have been at this ministry for about 28 years, and so they said listen pastor you go in the back you guys can sleep in the back and just after a while you know you didn't want anyone knowing that you were there because all we had basically were the clothing that we had so we had no true place to go. When we're able to get in the gang homeless shelter then a friend called and said “hey listen we're able to get you a family shelter.” And of course the shelters are strict as they should be and I was able to get employment.  When I was there at the shelter they said we were going to have some guests to try and persuade people not to give up on their lives, that they can regain control of their lives. And I said “well I’ll go to this meeting” I said well you know the name of the meeting is from homelessness to homeownership I said “sign me up!” My wife of course still shocked and very much embarrassed by the situation like well you know wherever you go, I go. After that because they decided the attorneys that were quieting the police said well if you implicate your husband you know if you look at him say that he's not only abused children but he's abused you, we can give your kids back today. She said “my husband is a good man we don't do that to our children.” And my brother, before he retired, was a police officer and so that's how I found out. It was a dear family member that reported on truth. We were able to get our children back and so of course the very first meeting I think it was in Fort Lauderdale across the street basically I was blown away with the amount of love. Not having many groceries I look forward to the pizza! We look forward for that over there we were basically fasting cause we didn’t have much because I had just started working. We had owned two previous homes you know you forget the details of those things because you know you live in your life and on things and so it was very refreshing. All crowns were massive and we were already in a place that we were very faithful and humble people anyway, but we even more humbleded by the situations we were like before time. I remember many times helping the ladies jout move chairs setting up just give me a spot. They asking questions we want to get involved because our credit was horrible and the most difficult thing we would ever find was to try and time monies to for the down payment. We ended up bringing our children back so imagine our children there with us in the shelter. Children would be doing homework in the back when we were in the classes with the ladies, and just miss Marilyn with her just outstandingly positive, powerful personality just breathing life, and to anyone that met her - she never met a stranger and Marilyn’s a very very sweet woman but at the H2H meeting which means you're not necessarily getting the sweetest part of her you're getting you're getting that coach that if you don't do the right thing you’re going to run 20 laps and she could care less that you're crying, that you gotta run the laps because the bottom line is she has done this for very long time and you basically need to get in line. So whatever little degrees my wife and I had trust me we got our little selves in line. There was homework to be done there was whatever to fill out and it looked all being a man of faith I've never gave up. Obviously when you have so much stacked against you family is gone because our family just took off. I have a very large family 10 brothers and 1 sister and I'm the youngest. My father was killed when I was six months old. Friends, people that I've hired, no one no one no one insisted, outside of the ministry, trying to help us. And so we hung on every word with those ladies they talk they're very humorous, very knowledgeable with the very real when they talked about the lending agencies. We soaked it up we had our separate notebooks. I remember everyone by name I remember their guests and their friends and they became our family we depended on these meetings we couldn't have them fast enough they could be long enough. And the punch and the pizza and every now and then a little pieces of sweet here and there we just began telling our friends of course you know. Who would not listen to us of course because we're still in that situation. Just fighting throughout the years and probably stayed in there consistently for about three years to where we really couldn't save much of anything.  We were able to get a place to rent and there would be an onslaught of guests that will come there and just pick you up no matter how low the day is going. Remember we're going to court every week. No transportation I ended up borrowing a friend of mines scooter because I had a bicycle and of you know South Florida we were able to afford even though we live in Cooper City and Broward. The only apartment we were gonna afford was in little Havana which is in Miami “Calle Ocho” if you don't know how far that is from Hialeah - Miami Lakes, I work there. And I would ride my bike from there to that location and just you know just suck it up. And I can hear those ladies saying you know “one day at a time one day at a time” and so they would meet with us periodically. You have to have your documentation and there were no excuses. They are meeting with so many other people that when your time comes, you have to have your things ready. And my wife already was a stickler so. I’m going to fast forward so about five years later, five years later we went a much better place were able to move back to Broward County back in the flow of education as a teacher my wife and I both and that’s when the challenge came up for us next, saving money, when you are already used fasting but its time for that money to go into the bank and they are going to help you in an area to find something you can afford.but then you had to save up for this certain amount. Now people are finding out that in Dade-County  and so forth, job opportunities are coming to increase my pay which will help me with the benefits of H2H and but they stayed encouraging us. Continuing encourages us that doesn't matter, they still here too assist you with home purchasing pushes, still renting and leasing, I mean they never changed they never changed and for that I'm eternally grateful. They never look down on anyone never even the people that were there longer than us would ask same questions they never got frustrated they would be real. Miss Marilyn, tall sister is Maryland might also said that wasn't Linda? […] even yeah hold onto your hats well […] t is remarkable work and remarkable person verifying  the information, the program that they still run today. I verified their ability or inability to assist someone with friends of mine, with former real estate people, and they said “listen and they are far more legit than anyone realized” so when we were ready because we obviously stop coming to the meetings because of whatever not just with COVID, but just our lives being busier with the kids now and our family, God restoring our family. And I would still talk to my wife then we have to find each wage because but we never lost contact with miss Marilyn and so we thought that we were in place of readiness we called her up because we forced the school board offers so many different things and I really didn't trust them and I had a realtor that has proved has not to be as caring as you want but miss Marilyn still with her connects with miss Robin they just word got to us. They were very gentle, they knew that we were very fragile still after 8-9 years it's all about what you and your family will place wholeness and even if it's in your new beginning, this is still a miracle within itself. We are here even if you choose not to go through us and so when you hear people I was sure with all of you that are interested in purchasing a home, me going from $0.00 and zero cents to getting that job in the warehouse and my wife still she couldn't work as she still had to be there to prepare or whatever court documents and provide whatever with the kids. So this was a building income obviously when I was able to get back once the charges and everything was totally blown up another share this morning with his piece was one Wednesday I think it was like 2015 my attorney called and he says “hey I have the state attorneys office you know Monday coming up is a criminal case because you know we got the family the criminal in school board says you know I got the state attorney's office on and they have good news, are you willing to listen to them?” and I said yes. the person came out and said “hi are you Darren Jones?” she said “yes” “we have a plea deal you know that we want to offer you you and your family have been through this and that man” And by the way my wife and I even though my wife is nowhere near the situation facing 15 years life that's what we're you’re facing and criminal case starts Monday with you Jones separate. He says “well you know we want to offer you this plea deal and if you accept this maybe it's five years prison and not about on and on and on…” so just as I'm doing with the here and I'm searching through his books, he says “well what are you doing?”I was trying to search through the scriptures to find where an innocent man should take a plea deal. Well you talk about furious the attorneys were very furious with me now my own attorney, and I had to check him, even though I was doing my monthly payment thing I still was paying him. I said “hey man you work for me.” Ladies not the next day, not the next month not the next week not the next year the next day they call my job and I was working as a decently supervisors put him on speaker and you guys be there so we need you to come to the courthouse tomorrow we think that you would like what we have to offer. And I walked in and of course they asked me to bring my eldest with me and my wife are now we walked in and they said “we apologize it was a supervisor of the region of attorneys and he says I've been doing this for 26 years and that people that are charged with what you're facing I put them behind prison and I apologize to you today for the 4 1/2 years you and your family have to suffer, we've talked to your colleagues, we've talked to your neighbors, we've been able to find absolutely nothing therefore we're dropping the charges.” Obviously I'm running around excited but the first thing I want to do is I want that house. I wanted to say that to you to say to you that there were many many many many many many many many many dark days we cried so hard to where I'm a little hoarse from yelling at the girls at in the gym to where we didn't have a voice to speak. From crying from being in pain. And I told you that my father was killed now six months old and my mother worked three and four jobs to make ends meet - just like many of you like water off gas off. Only one pair of shoes with entire year, holes in those shoes. Hey you don’t want to go to church and kneel down and pray bec your friends gonna clown you that you got holes in your shoes.  And I was an outstanding basketball player and so I had to play in those old shoes that no one in the state wants. And so growing up very poor in liberty city many of you know about Scott projects if you don't they've they flatten those projects. Going through that it was nothing compared to what we're through with my kids and my wife. And there were many many as I mentioned before darkened days, but that one beacon of light was H2H. I will never forget H2H - matter of fact when the manifestation of rules of that money come I think I'm going to literally buy and take over the ownership of H2H so I can pay these ladies as a salary and then and publicize them properly so that we can help people. The beacon light was them, no one believed in us but then on June 11th we were able to close and able to become homeowners again. These shades that you seeing behind me my office now my youngest is at UCF well my youngest daughter. My son he's a senior now you know he was he was just six years old at the time, and he's enjoying the space that we have we were blessed to have a four bedroom 3 bath bathroom home in Miramar. My wife likes the little circle driveway so she has a circle driveway in. Now how I am the type of father and husband I am, my wife and I we actually been married from December 22nd will be 31 years I already know 'cause ladies those of you that have children you can imagine the pain that she had to endure. My son and I was just sharing with miss Marilyn, thank God he's totally healed and whole now but he went through just tremendous trauma over looking for his mother and father on a daily basis. And most people we know they don’t do the job that they should do with children unfortunately. They promised they would never split our children up, but they did and then then that really damaged him for a point in time. Thank God he’s totally healed and made me the type of person I am. I really didn't want to look at the house my wife was looking at I just told her whatever you choose when you're ready I'll go there and if that’s what you like, I’ll go. I know I can do on your rock I could live in the car but with her I wanted her to pick it up and so as a token of kind of her honoring me - she knows that I was born and raised on the what my mom called the Creek. Fishing, my mom is 85 years old but she will out fish anybody on this Zoom call. She gets them with walkers and she catches them with a cane pole. So I am an avid fisher, so my wife first thing she did she took me straight to the backyard because there is a beautiful lake and right. It may not be a lake that's the size of Lake Tahoe but it's mine is my little lake. I have to run those turtles off as they eat up my bait. But it's such a place of joy , I'm just very very thankful we've been able to go. One of the things she really wanted to do is get paint in it, we will start working on some foundational things and that's what we've gotten out, now we are pacing ourselves slowly to work on what she wants to work on. This really is the place that I wanted my office but my son who is a senior I come home every evening and say “cmon man you’re in my office again, on the computer again, drinking out of my cup again.” Guess what you know what that's called that's called life. That was taken from us but with the help with the god sent of H2H we are able to do that. And we always celebrate and just dance when we heard other people telling of their testimonies. So we waited for this day to come, the reason why my wife isn’t in here with me is because we do we do have another very important meeting so she's setting that up for me out there. Just know that first of all with the Lord on your side you can't fail and the Lord is using this company, this business, this group of ladies, have all been through personal challenges of their own, and for then to come and take time out of their very busy schedules with their families with their challenges and love us; it's real it's a real deal I tried to share that with you and such a short period of time but there's so much I didn't share. I didn’t share how Broward County school board. God has gifted me as an administrator and educator to change schools. Mcnickel Middle School was a D school at the time of the school and four points away from an F and God uses two years bring it to 12 points away from a as well as holiday high it was a triple F school and in one year became within 23 points of an A as well as Hallandale High School. and so I just told him put me wherever you want it didn't matter put me in other little different schools and so for them not to stand by my side. I already knew who my God was but they helped me remember he was, and you remember that you might be where you are right now that's not you. That’s not you. You talk to your significant other if you have one, if you're by yourself, fine and you be focused on missing meeting at these days they tell you that it begins in 6 arrive at 5. If they tell you there’s a special meeting for you to go to go to the meeting and arrive an hour early. This is your family. This is your support group. If they tell you something that you don't feel right you think it's phony, I'm not phony because I want my prayers answered and I want God to be pleased with everything that I do. When I'm praying for people I want breakthroughs for their lives so I'm not lying to you about them they're not paying me anything to promote them. I wish I could tell it over all over the world I would. If their talking to you about some data analysis or some details. See sometimes we as grown people we grow only because we may know realtor or we may know surviving a banker, banking agency or we may even have informal homeowners we try to keep that knowledge and we in our minds were warring with these ladies if you notice these meetings sometimes unfortunately become lack of rotando just revolving door. 50 people in and 50 people out while because people don't learn to use that old school stick to it intentness. They feel they aren’t going anywhere anyway - yes you may be in HUD or maybe these ladies are gonna get you to the point where God's intended for you to get but you gonna have to listen. You can’t know everything. And don't think that they're not gonna make some mistakes, they make some mistakes will be forgiven such more beyond listen to what they say. Forget about wash away what you know and allow them with their own painting rush to repaint on the facts I add never had the pleasure of meeting Robin she had met me. First time meeting her that woman treated me like we had known each other for 15 years. She didn't need to be gentle because she knew our situation in terms of what we had gone through she didn't have to do that because my wife and I work hard now and would no longer since move in we are totally healed totally forgiven from day one all those people whatever they've done and she was just as gentle and telling me facts and she didn't fight with the fact she says I'm gonna provide you some information you make decision whatever decision you made was still going to be here. Whether you are a man, whether you are a woman - whatever the case may be allow them to help you. They can't do any more than you allow me to do so if you have questions for me I know most of the time that in testimonies there is no room for questions, but this is a little bit different, if you have questions for me I will answer your questions for you .I don't want you to take 10 years I want you to be better than me and so I will open the floor up to whatever questions you may have with me and that’s it in a nutshell. I'm just honored to be able to share with you and allow you to see some of the wounds that my wife and I experienced and just we have a place now provided that if something were to happen we have a home now.