RCEDA 8.5x11 Report d3

David Macias was admitted to the Section 8 Program effective December 1, 2011 and joined the FSS Program one month later on January 1, 2012.When Mr. Macias first starting receiving rental assistance through Section 8, he and his daughter were both working part-time and his household was on welfare receiving cash aid, food stamps and social security benefits with no clear direction. At that time, their annual income was $27,200. During their participation in the FSS program, the family had the opportunity to receive referrals for job listings and finish some trade/technical college which allowed them to eventually secure full-time employment. In addition David’s spouse Adolfa secured and maintained full-time employment as well which lead to their ability to become self-sufficient and pay the full amount of their contract rent of $1,434.00 on their

own effective April 1, 2018. Their annual income by April 1, 2018 was $85,019.00. After 180 days with zero housing assistance payments made on their behalf the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) contract automatically terminated effective 9/27/18. The Household’s annual income increased from $27,000 per year to $85,019.00, an increase of $58,019 per year. Mr. Macias plans on using his escrow account funds of $6,541.69 to pay off debt to get closer to homeownership. He has expressed that he and his family are very grateful for HACR and their worker, Therese Vetrino (retired), for her encouraging words along the way.

Lisa Lisardo and Angel Aguilar began receiving rental assistance through the Housing Choice Voucher Program in 2010, as a family of three. When Lisa enrolled in FSS in October 2011, she and Angel were both unemployed and had an annual income of $6,396 from cash aid. In 2012, Angel started working at a series of jobs, many of which were with staffing agencies. He progressively established a solid work history, which led to his hiring at the Home Depot’s distribution center. With her son entering high school, Lisa re-entered the workforce in 2016. Earlier this year, Lisa was hired at Home Depot’s distribution center as a forklift driver. As of June 1, 2018, based on the household’s income, the housing assistance payment went to $0 and they began to pay 100% of their rent. As their earned income increased and the HAP decreased, a portion was placed in an interest bearing FSS escrow account. She qualified to graduate from the FSS Program because 30% of adjusted monthly income, exceeded the Fair Market Rent (FMR) of $1,156 for the voucher size for which her family qualified. At the time she graduated from FSS, the household’s annual income had increased to $64,153, an increase of

$57,757 fromwhen she first enrolled in FSS. Upon graduation, Lisa and Angel received their accumulated escrow account funds in the amount of $26,481.47. They plan on using the funds to replace a dying car and set the rest aside in a savings account for homeownership.

Yvette Cornelius was first admitted to the Housing Authority of the County of Riverside’s HCV program on July 1, 2007. As a struggling parent, Ms. Cornelius enrolled in the Family Self Sufficiency Program in September 2011 with an annual income of $15,024 fromunemployment, welfare and food stamps (excluded income). During her participation in the FSS program, she became employed and worked for Aetna Life Insurance Company, UPS andmost recently 1st Class Staffing. She also received State Disability Insurance (SDI) for a portion of that time. In August 2017, Yvette began working for 1st Class Staffing on assignment at United Facilities earning $45,750 per year. Within her first six months, she learned to operate a forklift and her annual income increased. Through her hard work, determination and participation in the FSS program, Yvette was able to increase her annual income from $15,024 to $61,577, a $46,553 difference. Two of her three children are now independent self-sufficient adults, and the third lives with her father.

Yvette was eligible to graduate from the FSS program because 30% of the family’s monthly adjusted income, $1,539, exceeded the Fair Market Rent for a one bedroom apartment, which was $926. Her plans for her FSS escrow account funds is to purchase a home in the Moreno Valley area.

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