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BISBEE — Just a few years ago, she was a high school dropout on welfare roles.
Today, she is a successful business owner who was recently approved for a seat on the commission of a program that helped her reach her goal of self-sufficiency.
Sierra Vistan Magda Morales is proud of her achievement as an appointee to the Family Self-Sufficiency Commission, a HUD Section 8 program.
The single mother with four children to raise on her own decided that in order to provide for her family, she would have to get her GED to find a job.
 Magda Morales is a new member of the Cochise County Family Self-Sufficiency Commission. Morales also recently started a cleaning business in Sierra Vista. (Mark Levy-Herald/Review) |
“It’s a requirement,” she said. “You have to have a high school diploma or a GED to find a job.”
The problem, though, was that even after she got her GED and found work, the pay wasn’t enough to keep the family’s head above water. So, she had to turn to the county social services for help.
“I was getting older and I realized I had to support my kids. I did it for them, for their futures,” Morales said. “There are many programs out there to help families. They just have no idea. I was in shock to hear about all the programs.”
“There are a number of ways this family self-sufficiency program can help and Magda is one example of how well it can work,” said Lynne T. Bie, interim director of the Housing Authority of Cochise County.
“I showed that you can be a single mom and get out there and be successful,” Morales said.
Under the FSS program, participating families are provided with financial incentives to work their way off welfare and housing subsidies, Bie said. In cooperation with other agencies, public schools, businesses and other local partners, the county social services has developed a comprehensive program that gives participating FSS family members the skills and experience to enable them to obtain employment that pays a livable wage.
The primary incentive is the FSS escrow account, Bie said. Once enrolled in the program, the public housing agency puts the amount of any rent increase that would be caused by a raise in earnings into an escrow account each month. That money grows as long as the participant stays employed and fulfills the terms of the contract. The money saved can be used for a variety of purposes such as child care, transportation, education, job training and employment counseling.
“If people need a car to help get them to work, the funds can go for that,” Bie said. “It’s used to make their lives better. We are working with Cochise College to offer scholarships for those who want to continue their education.”
Morales has another purpose for her escrow account — her cleaning service business Nice ‘N’ Clean.
“I hope to hire two more people to work with me,” she said. “I’m getting a lot of work.”
She offers residential and commercial cleaning services and is bonded and insured, a $2,500 expense that was paid with her federal tax refund.
Just recently, she was hired by a local real estate agent to clean his home. The Realtor was so impressed with her work that he now wants her to work on homes he has listed.
“It’s kind of scary,” Morales said. “I have a lot of responsibilities now. I just don’t have a choice. Sometimes you do what you have to do. I like to clean, so it seemed like a good idea to clean houses.”
She generally works six or seven hours a day, mostly while her children are at school.
“Daniel is 13, Bianca is 10, Leslie is 9, and David is 4,” Morales said. “And I have two St. Bernards. It’s a big family and I have to provide for them.”
As for her seat on the commission, she said, “I’m nervous, but I’m so excited. I just need to get a feel for it before I can offer some ideas.”
Bie thinks Morales was the perfect choice for the commission.
“We are so lucky to have her. She has some wonderful ideas,” Bie said. “I think she is great. You need people on the commission who give ideas and contribute.”
HERALD/REVIEW reporter Shar Porier can be reached at 515-4692 or by e-mail at shar.porier@bisbeereview.net.
prove them wrong wrote on Dec 27, 2007 8:42 PM: