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The Jefferson Family

Chenia Jefferson and her five young children, Damaria, 8, D'Marcus, 6, Mausee, 5, Messiah, 3, and Jada, 2, arrived at L.A. Family Housing's Comunidad Cesar Chavez (CCC) emergency family shelter in August 2005. Because of all she had endured prior to her arrival, at first Chenia was resistant to receiving help. Who could blame her? She came to CCC from a domestic violence shelter, where she had fled from a long-term abusive relationship. She was fearful of what her future looked like.

At the same time, there was a spark of hope and determination inside her, waiting to be alighted with the right encouragement and support. She was committed to working toward a better life for herself and her children. "I knew I couldn't just wait for something to happen," she says. "I had to get up and do it myself."

Chenia remembers, "CCC was the total opposite of what I had experienced at the other shelter. The program was more focused on helping me be independent." She began to form a trusting bond with shelter staff, who immediately worked with her to find a job. Chenia was very motivated to secure employment, but lacked the confidence to enter the workforce. Through preparation and a true willingness to succeed, she began to make progress, and eventually found a job in data collection. She learned the meaning of responsibility and accountability…"suiting up and showing up" for every scheduled shift. She was able to access resources that provided her with child care, and she learned the importance of budgeting a paycheck.

In November, Chenia's time limit at CCC was approaching. She worked diligently with staff to ensure that she and her children would have a place of their own to live, so they would not have to go to another shelter. At that time, a vacancy in L.A. Family Housing's Cochran Villa affordable apartment complex in mid-city Los Angeles became available. Chenia and CCC staff completed an application.

Three weeks later, with money she saved in CCC's mandatory savings program combined with financial assistance toward moving costs and furniture from the Pfaffinger Foundation, Chenia and her children moved into a three-bedroom, two-bath apartment in Cochran Villa. Since moving in, she has successfully secured a new job that is closer to her home.

"We love our apartment, and two of my neighbors in the building also completed the program at CCC," Chenia says. "We have that in common, and it's a good sense of community."

Last Christmas was a true celebration for the Jefferson family. And the staff at CCC also got to celebrate what team spirit and togetherness can accomplish. Now that her family is in independent housing, Chenia plans to accomplish more. "I'm going to keep pushing toward bigger and better things for me and my kids," she says. With her positive attitude, Chenia and her family have a bright future ahead!

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