BOISE, Idaho — Becoming a homeowner is a monumental feat for anyone who wants to dig in their roots and settle down. Although early 2024 housing market data shows it's difficult for families to purchase a home, one Idahoan who never let barriers stand in their way, achieved that goal.
On Friday, NeighborWorks Boise welcomed Special Olympian Courtney Lynch, 29, to her new home. Before she was handed her keys, she stood in front of a crowd, microphone in hand, and shared her story beginning with, "I've always wanted to be a homeowner."
After her speech, she was given a key attached to a golden home medallion and an unlimited-use bus pass. She smiled at the crowd as she inserted the key and opened the door stepping into what she can now call home. She gave a short tour to those in attendance.
Doctors would have never believed her accomplishments when she was a newborn, as they told her parents she wouldn't be able to talk or walk. But despite all odds, she is a decorated Olympian and now a homeowner.
In 2018, she collected a Gold Medal in the 200-meter race and was then picked to attend the 2019 Special Olympics USA Games, held in Seattle.
According to a news release, her other accomplishments include winning the 2016 Miss Amazing Idaho, the 2018 National Special Olympics silver medalist and the Jefferson Award.
"I don't ever let my disabilities stop me from doing what I want to do. My motto is, 'if something is hard, don't give up,'" Lynch said in a news release.
Lynch's new home is located in the Cole Bluff Cottages, which differs from their other "Pocket Neighborhoods" in that it has no steps leading up to homes, making it accessible for mobility-impaired people.
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