PIKE COUNTY, Mo. — Dawn Jolly is the reason the Tri-State Housing Summit never stops trying to make the American dream a reality for more people.

The 37-year-old mother of three teenagers recently bought her first house. The grocery store employee did it with the help of the North East Community Action Corporation.

NECAC is one of the hosts of the 2023 summit, which takes place from 9 a.m. to noon June 8 at the Rialto Banquet Center, 601 Broadway in downtown Hannibal. The free event is open to the public, and brings together housing advocates, community stakeholders and government representatives to highlight successful housing options.

“I love it,” Jolly said of her home. “I’m excited to get things moving forward.”

“Dawn was a wonderful person to work with as she made the journey to homeownership,” said NECAC Deputy Director for Housing Development Carla Potts, the summit organizer. “I am so delighted that she is now the proud owner of her new home. She worked very hard to make this happen.”

Jolly admitted it was not an easy journey and that she sometimes felt discouraged.

“There were quite a few tears,” she said. “I got upset thinking it was not going to happen.”

Jolly was able to make it happen and is glad she did. The family previously lived in a mobile home and one of her children had to sleep in the living room. All three now have their own bedrooms.

Potts said confidence-building is just one aspect the summit addresses.

“As housing needs continue to grow throughout our communities, the summit gives each of us the opportunity to come together, hear great speakers and work together to make the Tri-State area an even better place to live,” she said. “The summit allows us to explore new housing and homeownership opportunities. Together, we are stronger.”

In addition to NECAC, hosts are the Two Rivers Regional Council of Quincy, Ill., and the Southeast Iowa Regional Planning Commission of Burlington. NECAC organized the first summit in 2005.

One of the summit’s biggest successes came in 2013, when NECAC was instrumental in bringing a U.S. Department of Agriculture Great Regions designation to the 35-county area that makes up the Tri-State Development Summit. The designation gave the region another tool in building a stronger housing market.

Speakers this year include NECAC Pr4sident and Chief Executive Officer Dan Page; Hannibal Mayor James Hark; Ulysses “Deke” Clayborn of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development; CBDG Chief Development Officer Debbie Feeback; Jesse Mofle of the Missouri Housing Development Commission; Two Rivers Community Development Director Chad Frederick; USA Missouri State Director Kyle Wilkins; Wayne Crawford of Missouri Inclusive Housing; Self-Help Housing participant Kenneth Hemphill; and Beyond Housing President and Chief Executive Officer Chris Krehmeyer.

Jolly offers encouragement to others who are trying to decide about pursuing homeownership.

“Keep going and don’t give up,” she said. “Keep pushing forward.”

For more information about the summit, call NECAC sat 573-324-6622.