The Villager
"5 Housing Authority Success Stories"
Contributed by Jennifer Jones, Media Relations Specialist, Housing Authority of the City of Austin
Oct. 15, 2004

Nothing could keep these women down. Between attending school, working part-time or full-time jobs, taking care of a family and struggling to make ends meet while living in public housing, Yola Barriere, Chileshe Chipamata, Cecilia Ledesma, Barbara Martinez and Patricia Martinez decided to take control of their lives.

These five women, who have moved out of public housing, are the 2004 graduates of the Housing Authority of the City of Austin's Family Self-Sufficiency Program. Their achievements were honored at the annual FSS Banquet Wednesday, Oct. 6.

"I want to focus on staying debt-free," said Barbara Martinez. "If that means riding in a little clunker, that's fine with me as long as it gets me from point A to point B."

Established in 1993, the program has 213 current members, helping both Housing Choice Voucher and public housing tenants identify a five-year plan documenting their personal and professional goals. Staff works with program participants, linking them to education, job training programs and supportive services to better prepare the members for today's competitive job market.

One of the most unique aspects of the program is the escrow savings account. As FSS members' rent increases due to earning higher wages, a portion of the rent is matched by the FSS Program and credited motnly to an escrow account. After achieving their goals and being welfare-free for 12 consecutive months, members are eligible to reeive the escrow money. Current FSS participants have a combined escrow balance of over $233,000.

Beverly Silas, former trustee of Austin Community College, gave a keynote address on overcoming life's challenges to achieve success. She, herself, grew up in the Fifth Ward of Houston and worked three simultaneous jobs at one point to be able to make ends meet.

"I didn't have people pushing me to succeed and wanting me to keep reaching for more like the Austin Housing Authority does for you," Silas said. "This agency and this program believe in you, and you have the ability to make the most of it and make something of yourselves."

Patricia Martinez, who earned the highest escrow amount of $26,728.78, found that the program truly motivated her to handle any obstacle that comes her way.

"Don't give up and don't let anyone or anything make you think that it cannot be done -- because it can," Patricia Martinez said. "I still use this same way of thinking now. Just because you graduate from the program, [that] doesn't mean anything gets easier.

"You still have goals you need to work toward, and there will always be obstacles, but you can get through them one at a time!"