New York
Mabel Alicia Brown
Ms. Brown and her five children were enrolled into the Family Unification
Program (FUP) offered by Rural Opportunities, Inc., Section 8 Housing
Rental Assistance program July 1996. This program afforded the family
rental assistance in safe and affordable housing. Mabel also enrolled
in the HUD Section 8 Housing Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) program.
These programs require that participants commit to setting goals to
improve themselves and their families economic independence. A financial
incentive, saved as an escrow is provided to FSS families when they
increase their earned income.
Ms. Brown's most important goal was to remain sober from her past addiction.
She wanted to take care of her family and all health issues, learn to
drive and get a car, become employed and support her family, without
public assistance. Most important Ms. Brown wanted to be a good mother
to her children. Mabel, who prefers to be called Alicia has accomplished
all those goals and far more.
Ms. Brown's dream goal is to purchase a home for her family. Her enrollment
in HUD's FSS program and the first time home owner's program will help
her acquire that goal. These programs offer escrow and matching fund
accounts to enrollees that are employed and working towards economic
independence. Since Rural Opportunities, Inc. nominated Alicia as our
candidate on the National Roll of Achievers, her family experienced
an electrical fire in the home. Some furniture was lost. The family
was not physically harmed, but they are all looking forward to a new
home.
Wappingers Falls, NY
Marisa Pixley
When Marisa signed a contract with the Family Self Sufficiency Program
in July 1997, she was a single mother struggling to raise two children
with an income of less than $5000.00 a year. Marisa set a high goal
for herself, to become a certified daycare provider and to open her
own daycare in her home. She sacrificed her family's living room to
open a daycare for 6 children called "Sunflower Daycare". Through Marisa's
hard work and dedication, she has managed in 3 years to become free
of all financial subsidies and has declined her Section 8 rental assistance.
Marisa became a homeowner on February 16, 2000. She accumulated $13,
182 in escrow money, which she used for the closing cost on her family's
new home. Marisa's new home has a separate room for her to run her daycare.
Marisa and her children no longer need to sacrifice the family's living
quarters as she has completed all of her goals she set to achieve. There
is a great need for daycare in Orange County. Marisa is now able to
give back to the community to help others that may be in a similar situation
that she once struggled through. Rural Opportunities, Inc. is proud
to have played a part in Marisa's success and we hope to inspire many
others to do the same.
Sponsored by:
Rural Opportunities, Inc.
Middletown, New York 10940
Yanerys Rosario
Eight years ago, at the age of 16, Yanerys Rosario was attending high
school, working two jobs, and living by herself in her own apartment.
She had come to this country with her mother, but after a short time,
her mother's health forced her to relocate to a warmer climate leaving
Yanerys on her own. At the of age 22, Yanerys was pregnant and homeless.
"I was living in a shelter in New Rochelle," she said. "One
of the nuns there knew I was anxious to go to school, and told me about
the orientation at CCE." (Westhab's collaboration in the Project
Own Employment and Training Program.) Yanerys began training in adolescent
childcare, but her pregnancy made the work too risky, so she switched
to basic business operations. "I finished the six-week course,
but I was still anxious to do more -- to get hands-on experience,"
she said. For the duration of her pregnancy, Yanerys volunteered at
Westhab's Employment and Training office in Mt. Vernon. "I learned
a lot," said Yanerys. "The people there shared so much with
me. And I was doing exactly what I wanted to do, helping people."
While working as a volunteer, Yanerys moved into Westhab's temporary
housing. After working temporarily, than part-time, she was hired in
a full-time position at Westhab. She graduated from Top Step, a federally
funded housing and self-sufficiency program, and after a great reference
from her case worker, she and her young son were able to move into their
own apartment. Yanerys is continuing her studies, and she plans to graduate
from PACE in December 2001.
Sponsored by:
Westhab, Inc.
Elmsford, NY
2001
3/1/2001
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