May 2007 - IACAA Family of Distinction

(Story reprinted with kind permission of Latanza Harris)

Earlier this year, Latanza Harris and her family were nominated for an Illinois Community Action Association Family of Distinction award. Latanza truly exemplifies the success that each of the Illinois Association of Community Action Agencies strives for its Transitional Housing participants.

Latanza successfully completed the Transitional Housing Program at Mid Central Community Action, Inc. on January 31, 2008. With a successful full-time job where she willingly works overtime to supplement her income, she was able to move her family into a three bedroom, three bath
condo that includes a family room and attached garage.

Latanza relies on her extended family and church community for additional personal and family support. Latanza is the mother of one daughter and four sons. Her adult daughter has a son who Latanza watches often. Latanza’s sons range in age from 17 to 20. Latanza’s oldest son is finishing his first year of college on a football scholarship. Her other three sons are attending high school and work part time. In addition, during the summer of 2007, Latanza agreed to accept custody of a friend’s 18 year old son who was having difficulty educationally and interpersonally with poor peer choices. Latanza and her children ensured that this child became an integral part of the family. Latanza has been a strong supporter of this child and helped him integrate into the community.

Latanza entered our Transitional Housing Program in the summer of 2005. At that time, she and her four sons were living in her mother’s home because they had no other place to live. Her husband had two months left on a prison term in California. This situation defined Latanza’s homelessness. In Latanza’s words, “I sought help from Mid Central Community Action (MCCA) because of my desperation of not having a place to live. We were living with my mother. I was and am very close to my mother and this arrangement was causing discourse between us. This was a
relationship I did not want to lose.”

Like many of the families we serve, Latanza’s road to self-sufficiency was not easy nor without its pitfalls. Through case management, that included referrals to such places as DHS, food banks, the LIHEAP program, budgeting, and advocacy for Latanza’s sons’ educational placement, Latanza began her journey to become self-sufficient.

In August 2006, Latanza reported to MCCA staff that her husband, who had recently been released from prison and had returned to the community, was using drugs. Latanza was making progress until September 2006 when she relapsed from a past drug problem, began using crack, and lost her job. At that time, Latanza turned to her pastor, to her MCCA support system, to her mother, and to her children for help. The next two and a half months were very tumultuous for the Harris family. During this time, she received help from many sources: her two oldest sons went to work and assumed some of Latanza’s financial and family responsibilities; her mother also helped with these responsibilities; Latanza’s mother and daughter sheltered her periodically; MCCA provided support, counseling and referrals while urging her to enter drug treatment; and her church family, which included her pastor and a former retired deacon and his wife, supported, counseled, and sheltered Latanza and her children. Ultimately, after pursuing the possibility of residential treatment, Latanza chose to attend Celebrate Recovery at her
church. She personally felt this would be the most meaningful and lasting treatment for her.

By late 2006, Latanza was well on her way to recovery. She was assuming her parental, occupational, and financial responsibilities. By March 2007, she had secured the job she presently has and was displaying a confident and determined demeanor. This continued and led MCCA to accept Latanza’s request to extend her Transitional Housing contract until the beginning of 2008 in order to provide Latanza the time to continue stabilizing her financial condition so she would be able to actualize her successful completion of the program and reinforce her transition into selfsufficiency. What helped define Latanza’s success was her ability to rise from the brink of failure. She used her inner-strength and determination to change her, and her family’s circumstances. During the past year, Latanza accepted the help and support from numerous programs offered at Mid Central Community Action, Inc.; reached out to her church community for direction, support, and personal, family, and spiritual nurturance; worked with school administration and teachers to advocate for her children’s success; and strengthened her relationship with her extended family. Latanza is very humble and acknowledges the help she received as she states, “being able to establish relationships with the various programs at Mid Central Community Action, coupled with the help of my family and church, helped me hang in there when I relapsed. Everyone was encouraging, but firm with me.”

On March 24th, MCCA was notified that Latanza was chosen as one of the families to be recognized at the Illinois Association of Community Action Agencies annual awards dinner on May 4th. At that time a video of Latanza, her family, and her support systems will be presented.

Latanza Harris’ success story is a testament to the goals of the IACAA - the importance of Community Action agencies to provide transitional housing and involved case management in partnership with families while believing in the potential of individuals to set attainable goals, slowly work toward those goals, and ultimately to actualize their goals.

Congratulations, Latanza! We are proud of you, your family, and your accomplishments!

January 2007 - Pontiac floods

On the Friday morning after the flood we found there was still one senior who could not return home due to water damage; she did not have anyplace to go. The American Red Cross (ARC) was preparing to move to their recovery command center and everyone was anxious to get this woman into a better situation. She said she was ill, possibly flu but seemed more likely to be stressed and later we determined she hadn’t been taking her medication. When she got to the motel she was able to call the pharmacy to deliver some to her.

This senior is 84 years old and had no family in the area, only two older sisters in Indiana. Friends and neighbors had been assisting her. We decided she needed to be in a motel as her home had water on the first floor and it might be some time before she could return.

We completed a GAP application and arranged for her to stay at the Comfort Inn. The police took her to the motel, and in talking to her she told us she did have a car which was parked at Ace Hardware, out of the flood area. We arranged for neighbors to get her car out to the motel. They also brought her cat to her, which greatly relieved some of her worry. The cat had been staying in the cold home for days. We spoke to the ARC center who said that the regular food delivery would begin on Saturday.

Even though she didn’t want much to eat, we took her some soup Friday evening, and also breakfast on Saturday. We called her landlord, who said he would start working on her home on Saturday to see what needed to be done before she could move back in. She was comfortable and
safe and we continued to stay in touch with her until she could move into more permanent housing.