The Neighbor Project is a NeighborWorks-chartered nonprofit operating in Aurora, Colorado that addresses barriers to homeownership and financial stability for working families. Founded on the premise that a city's greatest asset is its people, the organization focuses on breaking cycles of disadvantage through community-based financial empowerment. The organization has achieved recognition as a 2024 MacKenzie Scott Awardee and a Classy award recipient for innovative social enterprise.
1 million in stability provided to working families. The organization distinguishes itself through integrated programming that combines education, direct financial assistance, and innovative rental models. Their services span the entire homeownership journey—from financial stabilization and credit repair for renters, to down payment assistance for homebuyers, to foreclosure prevention for existing homeowners.
A key differentiator is the Breakthrough Rental program, which allows renters to accumulate 12 months of rent payments as down payment savings toward home purchase. The organization offers HUD-certified homebuyer education with personalized counseling, access to down payment assistance programs (government grants and low-rate loans), court-based rental assistance for eviction prevention, and free one-on-one financial coaching through their Financial Empowerment Center. They maintain an honest assessment of barriers—acknowledging that even with good credit, high rent makes saving difficult—and structure solutions directly addressing this reality rather than assuming individual financial discipline alone resolves structural disadvantage.