FAMILY SELF SUFFICIENCY PROGRAM
The Arlington Housing Authority’s Family Self Sufficiency program is a highly
successful resource facilitating life change. The following story from a recent
graduate best describes the value of this beneficial initiative.
“I moved to Texas from Mississippi in 2006
with my 3 children, few clothes, and hopes
of getting a better job. After moving to
Texas and getting a job, a co-worker told
me about the Arlington Housing Authority
and recommended that I apply. Two years
later, in 2008, I received a letter advising
that my application was approved for
housing assistance. I remember being
so excited about it; it was Christmas
and things had been so tight for me.
Sometimes, after I paid the bills, I only
had $50 left to carry me though the week,
praying that no emergencies occurred.
A few years later, I enrolled in the Arlington
Housing Authority’s Family Self Sufficiency
program. I was excited about that, too. I
knew they could help me become a home
owner which was a dream waiting to come
true. Shortly after enrollment, it was time
to set my goals. I had to think really hard
about what goals to set because I had
already started preparing for everything I
wanted or needed to do. So I set a goal to
get my Associates Degree, and completed
that goal. I set a goal to get a better
job, and accomplished this goal, which
included a raise. I set a goal to improve my
credit score and after much hard work, my
credit score increased from 520 to 690 in
just 2 years. God is good! I am currently
working toward improving my debt to
income ratio so that I can qualify for a
mortgage to purchase a home in Arlington.
God had a plan for me. He enabled my
daughter to complete high school and
matriculate into the University of TX at
Arlington. My oldest son is graduating
high school this year and has been
accepted to Jackson State University
in Mississippi. My youngest son will be
attending High School next year.
I want to thank the Board of
Commissioners and staff at the Arlington
Housing Authority that have helped
to make this program a success for
families such as mine. Without your
encouragement, the peer group meetings
(to let us know that we are not alone),
the budget meetings, and holding us
accountable for our actions, we would not
be as successful as we are. For that, I say
thank you. A special thanks goes to Mr.
Nickolas Gaffney for being a sounding
board to many of us in the peer group
meetings whenever we had questions or
just needed to vent abo