Campbell Soup Homeowner Academy

After several years of providing housing, it became clear that if the community was to be reborn, rehabilitated homes needed to be inhabited by responsible and informed community members. The second phase of renewal began with the creation of the Campbell Soup Homeowner Academy, which was responsible for developing good neighbors.

The Academy focuses on critical elements of home ownership, financial stability, and community growth. Its objective is to provide first-time homeowners the necessary skills to succeed in the transition from renter to owner. The Academy holds two educational classes: A twelve-week seminar that examines personal finance, budgeting, and neighborhood preservation and a ten-week course on home repair and maintenance. The latter covers such topics as plumbing, electrical, roofing, painting and other home repair issues. Both classes are “hands-on” learning experience that teaches families how to care for a home and be successful homeowners

The Academy is directed by certified counselors and offers bilingual housing education and support services to low/moderate income residents of Camden. The staff offers credit counseling to those Academy participants who need it and long-term money management support after home purchase. Academy participation is a required component for all Carpenter Society homeowners. The Academy has educated over five hundred families since its creation in 1993.