For Lisa Snorton and her three children, coming from rundown rentals in the ghetto to a comfortable house in the suburbs means a piece of the American dream.

        Ms. Snorton was among 15 families who have received housing in Lockland, Carthage and Lincoln Heights through the Cincinnati Housing Partners Inc., the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur and a grant from the Charlotte R. Schmidlapp Fund, for which Fifth Third Bank serves as trustee.

        Ms. Snorton moved into her four-bedroom home on Walnut Street in Lockland Thursday with her three children: Victoria, 10; Jeremiah, 3, and Mary, 1.

        “I can't begin to say how glad I am,” said Ms. Snorton, a drug counselor for Transitions Inc. in Covington.

        “I have lived in a lot of rundown places and paid a lot of rent. Cincinnati Housing Partners showed an interest in me. They thought I had some worth and that I deserved to live in a nice house, even though I come from the ghetto.”

        Ms. Snorton is a single mom.

        The trail that led to the housing opportunities for the families started with a $75,000 grant from the Schmidlapp Fund. It was channeled to Cincinnati Housing Partners Inc. from the Cincinnati chapter of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur.

        CHP is a nonprofit housing agency dedicated to increasing home ownership for low- to moderate-income families.

        It benefits mostly single moms.

        The agency was founded in 1985 by Notre Dame Sister Ann Rene McConn who serves as president and general manager.

        “We are helping women who want a home, but who have blemishes on their credit and know they cannot achieve the dream without a plan and without some assistance,” Sister McConn said.

        CHP worked with banks to create a financial plan for people to clear their credit rating within a year.

        They make lease payments roughly equal to their future mortgage payments.

        The Hamilton County Department of Community Development and Cornerstone Community Loan Fund have provided construction financing.

        It is time to honor those people who make a habit of giving and helping.

        Leave a Legacy, an initiative of the Greater Cincinnati Planned Giving Council, is asking for nominations for the Fourth Annual Voices of Giving Honors.

        The event pays tribute to those who, out of selflessness, generosity and foresight, chose to leave a legacy to charity.

        A steering committee of Leave a Legacy is asking nonprofit organizations in Hamilton, Butler, Clermont, Warren, Kenton, Campbell, Boone and Dearborn counties to nominate a donor from their organizations.

        Nominees may be a couple or a family. A person may be nominated posthumously.

        Deadline for nominations is May 15. Forms may be obtained by calling Rose Denman at Maple Knoll Village, 782-2424.

        The Voices of Giving Honors ceremony is set for 5:30 p.m. June 19 at Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park.

        Allen Howard's “Some Good News” column runs Sunday-Friday. If you have suggestions about outstanding achievements, or people who are uplifting to the Tristate, let him know at 768-8362, at ahoward@enquirer.com or by fax at 768-8340.

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