Sylvia alvarez
Name : Sylvia Alvarez What is your Profession ? Organization Founder Company : Housing & Education Foundation Your Pais : Cuba Hometown : Tampa , FL
Latin Times : Tell us how you got started in your career ? Sylvia Alvarez : It ’ s Funny how that happened I was in real estate and Mortgage lending for years and there was an agency in town offering home buyer education and I asked if they had it in Spanish they said “ NO ” and I said I ’ ll volunteer to teach the classes and I will do it once a month , I got so much back from teaching the people . Then the agency decided to close the doors , I thought this is not good people need to have this education to buy homes . So I approached a gentleman from the previous agency , I said , “ Do you think we could start a Non-profit to do the same thing we did before . In 2002 we opened and it took us while to get where we are and today we are going strong . went through a really tough time when the economy began to tank , I remember during this time I had to get our employees to let them know I couldn ’ t pay them anymore and we would have to shut the doors . It didn ’ t matter they came anyway and said “ Since we won ’ t be able to get a job in this economy we might as well be helping people .” We got to feel the pain all clients felt because all of us either lost my home or been through foreclosure . I admire all of them for sticking it out there is a bond between us and it ’ s a blessing that they have stood by mer . So for about two years most of us were volunteers and when money came in we would give it to those who needed it the most . We survived through the bad economy and now we are thriving
Latin Times : Tell us about yourself and your family ? Sylvia Alvarez : I was born in Havana , moved to New York at the age of 5 and then we came to Tampa and have been here since . I would go with my Abuela to Havana in the summers until they stopped allowing people to come , those are fond memories , the last time I went was 5 years ago with my husband and my daughter went a year earlier and fell in love with it . My dad is 92 , my mom is 87 , they are older and have a little trouble walking until you put on Salsa music then they get up and dance no matter what . My wonderful husband Phillip stuck it out through all we went through , my precious daughter , and my beautiful Granddaughter who looks just like me very stubborn and you have to do what she says . Family is very important to me .
Latin Times : What was the greatest obstacle you have encountered ? Sylvia Alvarez : In 2008 – 2010 went through a really tough time when the economy began to tank , I remember during this time I had a meeting with our team to let them know I couldn ’ t pay them anymore and we would have to shut the doors . It didn ’ t matter they came back the next day and said “ Since we can ’ t get a job in this economy we might as well be helping people .” We got to feel the pain all our clients felt because all of us either lost our homes or went through foreclosure . Getting up every morning with a smile on my face not knowing what to expect . For about two years we were volunteers and when money came in we would give it to those who needed it the most . There is a bond between us they are my colleagues and it ’ s a blessing that they have stood by me through all these challenging times . Two years ago we were a finalist for WEDU non profit of the year , I never expected to win , it was our turning point , and I am thankful to WEDU , So We survived through the bad economy and now we are strong and thriving
Latin Times : Who is your hero or role model living or passed ? Sylvia Alvarez : I have a lot of heroes but one that is not real is Scarlet from Gone with the Wind , because of all she went through and what she overcame . I always remember that part where she picked up the dirt from the ground and swore that God Help here she would never be hungry again !
Latin Times : What do you see in the future for your agency ? Sylvia Alvarez : I envision something that lit up inside of me from a model in Portland Oregon that is successful ; it ’ s an apartment complex for people who have been through devastation of loss of jobs , homes , evicted to come and get training in classes , credit , focusing on family and youth in this economy . Our veterans and their families and we have lined up to help them get training . We are calling it Esperanza Project .
Here is my website : www . myhomeamerica . org phone number : ( 813 ) 932-4663 All of our services are provided in English and Spanish .