Lakeysha

Lakeysha has always been the type of person who would drop anything to help someone else. After years of doing this, she realized that she needed to focus on herself too, and “pour into my own cup.” This feeling motivated her to leave her job, which was having a negative impact on her mental health, and explore new opportunities a little bit outside her comfort zone. And, this growing sense of self exploration inspired her to join the Family Self-Sufficiency program at Boston Housing Authority nearly three years ago. “FSS was almost like a light for mee, the possibility it offered help pull me out of the dark I was in. I wanted to get financially stable, create a budget, and land a good job doing what I love to do – helping others. ”

Not long after joining the FSS program, Lakeysha experienced a series of successes. She started a new job that meant that her corresponding rent increases would go into her FSS Savings Account.  Then, she bought a car so it would be easier to get to work. But at the same time, she experienced multiple personal losses. Several family members became ill and passed away, and tragically her son’s cousin was murdered. Lakeysha shares, “I threw myself into work – working nearly 100 hours a week. Not a lot of people were understanding of the trauma I was going through.”

Understandably, the emotional stress coupled with working long hours caused Lakeysha to overlook some bills and expenses, including her car payments. When Lakeysha spoke with her Compass Financial Coach, “She could tell something wasn’t right with me. Before we got down to business, she checked in on me. How I was doing, how my daughter was doing. And I just broke down and told her all these things I felt so far behind on. She helped me calm down and make a plan on how to get back on track. I had already saved over $7,000 in my FSS Account, which I used to catch up on my car payments. It helped me feel so much better and back in control. But it was the fact that she started by checking in on me personally – that moment of caring really helped me keep myself together.”

Lakeysha took action on her financial coach’s recommendations, and even opened a second credit card to improve her credit score. And it paid off – in less than three months, her credit score went up by over 200 points.

Then, Lakeysha and her financial coach focused on her next career step. “My coach helped me see it without saying it, which was that I had been underplaying myself. I have skills and talents and plenty of qualifications, but I was doing jobs that were kind of below me. Talking to her helped me put my life and goals into perspective that I needed to help my family.” Currently, Lakeysha is planning to go back to school to advance in her career in human services.

But Lakeysha isn’t stopping there: she has grand ambitions to obtain an additional license in cosmetology, so that eventually she and her daughter can open their own salon – something she always dreamed of doing. Likewise, she plans to become a homeowner – a place for her whole family to enjoy.  Having already built nearly $10,000 in personal savings, Lakeysha is on her way to achieving her goals.

About her experience in FSS the past three years, Lakeysha shares, “This program really is great because sometimes you do get overwhelmed, even if you have all the right elements in place. Being able to speak to someone who is a professional, who is familiar with the community, and can make good recommendations is so valuable. My attitude and my ambition is growing. I’m more excited to do something for myself. I can feel confidence and self-esteem getting stronger ever day because of it.”

Congratulations Lakeysha on all you have accomplished so far, and we look forward to your continued success.