Success Stories
My name is SDJ and although I am here to tell you how amazing the self-sufficiency program is, I want to share a bit of my life with you. *I promise it’s only a glimpse
(laugh)* For you too truly understand the impact CCA’s Family Self-sufficiency program has made in my family’s life, you need to know some background about me.
“As much as I would love to help...but…” are famous words that almost everyone hears in their life when they ask for help or guidance. Those are words that
I have heard endless amounts of times when I searched for any kind of help, until December 2017….
Here is a glimpse of my life story:
Growing up in a completely different world, I was raised by my Great-grandmother in Germany. My Oma is my world, and yes! She is still alive and going to celebrate
her 99th birthday in 2 months. Leaving her behind in 1995 to come to the famous “New York, New York” crushed my world but all my family believed that it was time
for my mother to start raising me and taking on some responsibility. I promise you, it was not easy by any means to come to a country with no other family that I knew of
besides my mom, whom I barely had a relationship with, not having any friends and worst of all, not knowing the language to be able to communicate. Fast forward through my teen
years…I became rebellious, drug-addicted, and an alcoholic by the time I reached 14. In and out of various facilities, systems, and group homes until the age of 18. After
cleaning my life up and doing a complete 360, I entered college after a few years of graduating High School. I was determined to make a difference in someone else’s life, especially
those that struggled with the same day to day tasks that I endured throughout my teen year, I chose to go to college.
I was on the path to getting my Associates in Criminal Justice. I walked across the stage in 2007, so proudly just to get bad news in the end, I did not have a degree! Here I am
$40,000 plus in debt with student loans and no degree. Yet, another hiccup in life that no one could help with and not knowing the resources, I left it at just that. 2008, I
became a mom. I had my 1st child, I had many ups and downs, with no support system, and only an abusive relationship. So, in April 2013, my son and I escaped to Texas in hopes of building a
relationship with my father, his grandfather and to get away from our abuser. Much to my dismay, that was an everlasting dream that never happened...I remained strong and provided to the best
of my ability for my child. We were doing great, until- mid 2014 when another life-changing moment occurred. I gave birth to my daughter. Single mom, two children, a full-time state employee,
a full-time student- that was my status. Yet again, I remained strong and forced through many sleepless nights and painful days to make sure my children and I needed nothing from anyone else.
The end of 2014 changed our life drastically. I got injured on the job, which ultimately after a year full of various therapies and surgery caused me to lose my job. Swallowing my pride, I
asked for help from my own family- with no success. At the time, I had a support system in North Carolina that would be temporarily available. I chose to sell our belongings,
pack what we could pack and set on a 24-hour drive to North Carolina.
October 2015…Three weeks of job searching- I landed a job as a cashier at a convenience store. Next was to get our place to live, that we could call home. Applications after
applications went in for income-based housing, with just notices of being placed on the waiting list. Learning all too well the lessons of letting others help me, I was put in the hardship to
send my son back to New York until I could get a place for us. Heartbroken and depressed, I still had a daughter to take care of, so yet again, remaining strong on the outside was the only
option. A week after Thanksgiving, I received a call of an apartment available. Immediately, I did what I had to do to continue the process and by Christmas 2015 we had our place. January
2016, I got promoted to Store Manager Position and chose to keep my son in NY for the remainder of the school year so that he would not have to change schools mid-year, again! It was hard but
a selfless act I had to do for my child.
February 2017, I got my family out of income-based housing and moved into a beautiful 3-bedroom home. In May 2017, I chose to work for the Community College in the Security Department, so I
left my position as a store manager. August 2017; I aggravated an old injury that caused me to have surgery yet again in October of 2017. Surviving with just bare minimum payments from short
term disability to cover bills and having a longer recovery time than anticipated, I fell short in Dec 2017 for my Electric bill.
Serving on the Parent Committee at my daughters’ school, I learned about the Self-sufficiency program and always referred other families to it, but never did it myself. Swallowing my
pride, I spoke with a case worker named Ms. Stephanie Cox who was located at the Godette Child Development Center and instead of being turned down and tossed to the side as
before with any other previous request for help; I was greeted with what would be the beginning to many successful events in our life thus far and many more to come…
Coastal Community Action, Inc.’s website defines Family Self-Sufficiency Program as an available program for individuals/families that meet the poverty guidelines and
are willing to work towards a set of measurable, attainable goals that will help move them toward economic independence. That is exactly what the program has done
for us. Paying my Electric bill was just the beginning. In the summer of 2018, my vehicle needed some much-needed attention to pass the inspection. I was able to reach out and not feel
judged. Seeing how much we were struggling, I made the conscious choice to take a step back and move back into income-based housing until I could fasten a job that would be able to let us
grow further and forward again. Fall of 2018, I had to yet again ask for help, however, I knew that I was doing the best I could and most of all I was doing this so it could be fair to all
involved. I was tired of explaining to my landlord why I was constantly late and constantly being harassed with eviction threats. The program provided a source of security and helped me put a
deposit down for the electric services at our new home. August 2019, I was able to move my family back into a beautiful, 3 bedroom house, a bigger yard than before and all on my own because
of I was taught to have perseverance.
Not only has it provided a sense of haven for my family it has also allowed me to become educated even more so. The workshops that I have attended through the Self-Sufficiency Program at
Coastal Community Action, Inc. have taught me how to budget accordingly, I have learned the basics of couponing- and let me tell you I am a pro in Food Lion now! Recently, I have completed a
workshop on Goals and made my own little Vision Board. **SHOW VISION BOARD**
Ms. Cox has been there for me to get prepared for interviews, listen to me whenever I needed to vent about anything, gave me positive feedback, and allowed me to grow and learn
simultaneously. I have cried in front of her, I have smiled, and I have been angry but, in the end, she always made me feel better and I never felt judged.
Here we are pretty much at the end of 2019 and being guided in the right direction with the right sources, I am back in school full time working on my bachelors of science with a 3.16 GPA and
a year and a half left, working Full time for the State of North Carolina as a Correctional Officer. I am in the application phase of Habitat for Humanity, working on my own personal business
as a Life Coach, and continuing to be an advocate for the Self-Sufficiency program, Head Start/Early Head Start program, Domestic Violence and Substance Abuse programs. Ms. Cox, Coastal
Community Action, Inc. and the CSBG Self-Sufficiency program have made a huge impact on our lives and I am and will always be grateful.
Challenges test the mental fortitude, tolerance, diligence and genuine character of a person. Misfortune and hardships make an individual solid and prepared to confront the difficulties of
existence with composure. There is no uncertainty that there can be no increase without torment. It is just when one works and works it out that achievement is supported and continued.
Whenever you find yourself doubting how far you can go,
just remember how far you have come. If you are WILLING to work on things, make changes in your own life and
create a positive mind frame you will achieve everything you set your mind to. You are not alone, and we are all here to help you build on YOUR success
story!
Thank you
