Foundation Communities
2008 General Cycle Awardee
Foundation Communities received a $50,000 grant under the 2008 general funding cycle of the Texas Foundations Fund. They used the grant to fund supportive services for the residents of seven multifamily apartment complexes in Austin. The grant enabled Foundation Communities to enhance their supportive services for two specific populations at risk of homelessness: homeless single adults and homeless families with children. Foundation Communities served 432 individuals and 60 families through these supportive services housing programs. The income of the average residents is $8,000 for the homeless single adults and about $15,000 for the homeless families. This grant, which went towards supportive services staff, helped leverage $372,684 in private, government and earned income funding.
Foundation Communities shared with us the story of Vanessa Contreras, an individual who has benefited from the Children's HOME Initiative (CHI), a supportive service provided by Foundation Communities and made possible in part by the Texas Foundations Fund.
Vanessa Contreras is a young mother of two sons, ages six and two. When the Contreras family entered the CHI program in April 2008 their family was in turmoil, hurting and unsure of its future. They struggled to meet their most basic needs with inconsistent income.
Vanessa had difficulty receiving child support payments; the family’s one source of consistent income. Her children’s father did not feel he needed to give any additional money for their family since he allowed Vanessa to use a car he purchased for her, in his name. Vanessa and her sons continued to live dependant on her ex-husband’s erratic generosity. It reached its pinnacle one day as she left her sons for a visit with their father and discovered he was using drugs. The situation turned violent which resulted in Vanessa’s arrest for assault. At the time of her personal strife, Vanessa quit her job cleaning offices and homes when she was told she would have to take a pay cut. She tried to connect with a temporary employment agency but had no luck.
She hit a low that in due course helped her to begin her ascent toward self-sufficiency. Vanessa ended her relationship with her ex-husband for the last time. She realized he did not really want a place in her sons’ lives without a relationship with her. From that point, Vanessa was forced to learn to function as both mother and father for her boys.
When she began the CHI program she felt very uncertain about her ability to parent her boys. She was overwhelmed with her children and could not control their outbursts. With the encouragement of her case manager she sought out parenting classes and tried out new parenting techniques. Her efforts began to give her some confidence in her home again.
Vanessa continued to be persistent and was able to secure a job at Seton Healthcare through a temporary employment agency. As of January 2009, Vanessa had completed her nine month temporary contract position and was brought on as a full time employee. Her consistent work has given her the opportunity to transfer to other departments within the Seton Network and utilize her training as a certified medical assistant. While working, attending parenting classes and learning to be a single parent Vanessa completed a 12-week anger management class before assault charges were officially dropped in September 2008.
Once Vanessa saved up enough money she returned her ex-husband’s car and purchased a reliable vehicle on her own, in her name. Her kids are growing to respect her more, as is evident in their behavior. Vanessa finally feels comfortable reaching out to family; her brother has become a consistent male figure in her sons’ lives. Vanessa is starting to feel confident in her family’s prospects. She is beginning to dream big for the first time in a long time.
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