National Roll of Achievers

Iowa

Jacqueline Chistiansen
Jacqueline entered Municipal Housing Agency of Council Bluffs' FSS (Family Self Sufficiency) Program in March 1994. She had not worked in fifteen years. She was a single parent with two teenage sons. Jacqueline did not have skills that would enable her to earn more than minimum wage initially. Her goals were to be full-time employed, learn to drive, purchase a car, and buy a house. Jacqueline had a number of obstacles that hampered her achieving these goals, however, she persevered. In the area of employment she found a job cleaning motel rooms. She held that job for a time and then changed to another doing the same work, but having slightly better pay and working conditions. She changed jobs four or five times before she began working at a local hospital in their kitchen in September of 1997. Each time the job was a little better in some way. Working at the hospital was finally the job she would enjoy and earn an income which would enable her to be self-sufficient. She is still in that job.

Besides only being able to earn minimum wage initially, she also had some problems with her two sons. The oldest son almost had her evicted from her home. Through some intervention with the landlord and a strong effort on Jacqueline's part, she was able to stay at the complex. She had to be tough though and not allow this son, then 21 years old, to live with her. He was not working and he would have to find his own way now. This was not an easy thing for Jacqueline to do. As a mother, she did not want to see her child out on the street with no place to live and not knowing how he would survive. But she did do it. She had support from her minister and the FSS Coordinator.

A year later her second son began causing problems. Jackie and this son had moved to a different apartment complex. She was nearly evicted. Once more, Jacqueline had to be tough and give the word that this son would no longer live at the complex. This time saying if he came on the premises when she was gone, the manager was to call the police; she would do the same if he came while she was home. Again this was not easy for her. But she had gone through this before and she had gained strength in the previous experience. This son was just about to turn 18. Some stalling was required until he was 18; so she would not be accused of neglect when she ousted him. By this time Jacqueline was working at the hospital.

Jacqueline's FSS contract was extended to allow her time to learn to drive. While she was going through all the problems with her sons, she did not have the energy or state of mind to learn to drive. She received an early partial FSS escrow to take the driving lessons. She took six weeks of driving instructions. She was not quite ready to take the driving test for her license. She took the driving course again. She then had to take the written test. She retook the test a number of times before she passed, but she persevered. By this time her FSS Contract had been extended over a year. She passed the written test and then the driving test. She was elated.

She graduated from FSS and received the escrow savings. With the escrow she purchased a car and paid for insurance. She still had some of the escrow savings left. This she put in the bank. She continued to save and one year later she purchased the house she had wanted for so long. She accomplished all her goals and she gained self-confidence and satisfaction with her life. Best of all she got back the person she was before she made a bad choice in the husband she picked.

Municipal Housing Agency of Council Bluffs
Council Bluffs, IA
2001

Melissa Freeman
Melissa was a young single parent with two children in grade school. She was on welfare and did not know how to get off. She felt her life was hopeless. She spent much of her days at home on the couch with the shades drawn. She joined Municipal Housing Agency of Council Bluffs FSS (Family Self Sufficiency) Program. She set her goals of going to college and earning a salary that would enable her to be independent of welfare. This was a very scary idea for her to be off welfare. What if she couldn't make it? How would she provide for her two daughters and herself? How would she provide medical care? But Melissa had courage. She began classes at the local community college. She worked hard in her classes. After about two years, she obtained a clerical job that looked good to her. In no time at all, she was bored. There was not enough work to keep her busy. She looked for and found a different job. This time at a hospital. She found she really enjoyed the work. Working with people was her original idea when she started college.

Melissa's oldest daughter began acting out. Melissa was not sure how to deal with the behavior. She talked with the FSS Coordinator and tried the agencies that were suggested for help. It took perseverance and continually trying to get her daughter the help she needed. Melissa also learned new parenting skills. Melissa worked and she continued to deal with problems as they arose for several years. She took the training to be a Certified Nursing Assistant. She worked hours which would provide the best salary and that would work best to keep tabs on her daughters. Turning a child around takes time. Melissa stuck with the struggle as she worked to build her skills and earn a living. She was off welfare and making it even though it was not easy.

Her second daughter also began acting out as she reached her teens. Melissa had skills now. She knew what she had to do to turn things around before they got out of hand.

This year Melissa obtained a second job as a Psychiatric Therapy Technician at another hospital to increase her income. This has been working for her. She completed her FSS goals, graduated FSS, and received the escrow savings. She used part of the money to take her daughters on a trip to South Carolina for a combination vacation and family reunion this spring. Melissa plans to go on to receive her bachelor degree in the human service field once her daughters graduate high school.

Melissa said she has come so far from where she was when she entered the FSS Program. She has jobs in the field she enjoys, she owns a new car, her bills are paid, and her credit is good. On top of it all, she feels very good about herself. She knows she can handle whatever comes along. She knows where to seek help if she needs it.

Municipal Housing Agency of Council Bluffs
Council Bluffs, IA
2001

Sunny D. Watson
Sunny, a single parent with one sixteen months old, was already going to the local community college full-time when she entered Municipal Housing Agency of Council Bluffs' Family Self Sufficiency Program in November of 1995. In addition to being a single parent with a sixteen-month-old and going to school full-time, Sunny also has dyslexia. It took her much longer to read the material for her classes than it takes a student without dyslexia. Despite all this she graduated in July 1997, with honors. She earned an Associate of Arts Degree in Business Management with Finance, and Associate of Science Degree in Psychology, and a Diploma in Accounting Technology. The next month she began full-time classes at a local university going for a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration and two minor degrees- one in Computer Science and the other in Accounting. She had plans to one day have her own business.

Sunny graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree with majors in Computer Information Systems and Business Administration in June 2000. She began a temporary part-time job eight months before graduation. Shortly before graduation she obtained another job. But, this job was not what she was told it would be. She was not able to use the knowledge and skills she had developed in college. Sunny's FSS contract was extended so she could complete her goals. In March 2001, she obtained employment with a company, which hired her for her business and computer skills. She is happy in this job and enjoys the challenge of it. She is earning a good salary and began immediately paying her full rent. She has completed her FSS goals and graduated from the FSS Program.

This fall Sunny will begin work on her MBA with concentration in finance. Her employer will reimburse her most of the cost for her classes.

Municipal Housing Agency of Council Bluffs
Council Bluffs, IA
2001