Help That Matters

HAPHousing's annual report highlights many people who have bought their first home or fulfilled other goals and dreams with HAP’s help. All of these success stories are possible because of gifts and support from people like you. Here is one story.

Five years ago, Anabel Rodriquez had a young daughter, no daycare and no way to keep a job. She and her daughter, Anialys, lived on $65 a month in child support, food stamps, MassHealth insurance and the cash she picked up from hairdressing.

"I was going nowhere," she says. "At some point, I realized I needed to do something for myself if I wanted to make a future for us."

This year, Anabel celebrates her completion of the HAPHousing Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) program, which she leaves with a good long-term job (five years and counting), college coursework in progress and a $22,431 check to be put toward a home of her own.

What went right for Anabel was the FSS process, which began with a signed contract that articulated her goals and arranged for assistance as she transitioned to self-sufficiency. After resolving her daycare issue, she found a part-time job that eventually turned into full-time. Increasing income was key, because as she did, her rental assistance payment decreased and the difference was automatically deposited in an interest-bearing escrow account. Upon completion of the program, her savings can be used to buy a home or achieve other personal goals.

To HAPHousing Executive Director Peter Gagliardi, Anabel's story illustrates affordable housing assistance at its most inspired.

"Nothing makes me happier than to write out a check from an escrow account to help someone start a new life," he told FSS participants at a picnic that marked the graduation of many. "The success of this program is because of you," he told them. "We can help; we can point out a path; but we don't do the work. You do."

And so they do. Motivated participants learn to set goals, overcome obstacles, find economic stability and save to meet their goals. For Anabel, the biggest obstacle was childcare. For others, like Delfina, the roadblocks may be poor language skills, low self-confidence, poor credit and the challenge of following through on goals that take years to achieve.

While the FSS program is modest in size by comparison to many HAPHousing programs (100 current participants), the holistic approach creates stronger families whose economic stability is both hard-earned and sustainable.

"This is one of many ways in which we take people wherever they are in their lives and help them move forward," said Gagliardi. "Our focus is on helping people help themselves."

HAPHousing helps many people like Anabel change their lives, find better housing, pursue their goals of better education and better jobs. Some eventually become homeowners. But, we need your support to make all of this happen. HAPHousing needs you. Your gift makes dramatic and lasting change in the lives of people like Anabel and her kids. Please consider giving your own personal gift to HAPHousing.

Thank you!

To read more success stories and learn more about HAPHousing, please call Sarah Page at 413-233-1727 for a copy of HAPHousing's annual report.

HAP, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and your contribution is tax-deductible.