Celebrating FSS Graduate - Agnes I.

The FSS Team is proud to celebrate the remarkable success of recent FSS graduate Agnes I., whose journey is an inspiring example of resilience, determination, and what can be accomplished when families are surrounded by meaningful support, resources, and opportunities.

Agnes graduated from the Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) Program in May 2026. When she enrolled in March 2022, she was a single mother facing two primary challenges: securing reliable childcare and increasing her income to create a more comfortable and secure future for her family.

Over the next four years, Agnes transformed those challenges into steppingstones toward an extraordinary accomplishment.

Building a Financial Foundation

From her very first FSS enrollment appointment, Agnes established a clear goal: she wanted to build a financial safety net for herself and her family. She did not wait to get started.

Immediately after her enrollment appointment, Agnes went to a nearby bank, opened a savings account, and made a commitment to herself-to deposit $25 from every paycheck.

That simple commitment became a powerful habit.

Agnes worked diligently to build her savings and, just as importantly, to leave those savings untouched. During the first two years of the program, she consistently provided bank statements showing that she had deposited $25 exactly 26 times each year.

By her third year, Agnes decided to challenge herself even further. As she watched her savings grow, she committed to depositing $25 every week.

By the end of her FSS contract, that consistency, discipline, and determination had resulted in more than $6,200 in personal savings.

But Agnes did not stop there.

Education and Career Growth

While building her savings, Agnes continued working as a caregiver, attended school, and actively pursued opportunities to increase her earning potential. She also participated in financial education workshops through the FSS Program's partnering agency, Consumer Credit Counseling Services of Northern Illinois, strengthening her knowledge of budgeting, credit improvement, and long-term financial management.

Her commitment to professional growth culminated in December 2023, when Agnes earned her Nursing Assistant degree from the College of Lake County and successfully passed the Illinois State Certification Exam.

Agnes was eligible for federal grants that covered the cost of her education, allowing her to pursue her career goals without taking on student loan debt.

Her new credential opened the door to higher-paying caregiving opportunities, and Agnes continued working to increase her household income and strengthen her financial future.

Preparing for Homeownership

Throughout her time in the FSS Program, Agnes remained focused on her long-term goal of homeownership. She worked to maintain an excellent credit score, continued growing her personal savings, maintained steady employment while increasing her income to support a future mortgage, and avoided taking on new debt.

Her consistent attention to these goals helped position her for a successful transition from rental assistance to homeownership.
By April 2026, Agnes's increased income resulted in a calculation that she would be responsible for paying full market rent, putting her on a path to successfully exit the Housing Choice Voucher Program within six months.

Agnes, however, was ready to take the next step. She was ready to become a homeowner.

Through coordination with LCHA's Property Disposition Coordinator, Agnes learned about an available home in Beach Park. She recognized the opportunity and pursued it.

In May 2026, Agnes officially closed on her home, marking a significant milestone in her FSS journey.

A Community Effort

The home-buying process was further strengthened through the support of Community Partners for Affordable Housing (CPAH). Through its down payment assistance program, CPAH provided $12,500 toward the purchase of Agnes's home, helping make homeownership a reality.

Agnes's success also reflects the ongoing support she and her family received from A Safe Place. Agnes spent six years residing at A Safe Place in Zion, where she received support and encouragement both before enrolling in the FSS Program and throughout her FSS journey. Their continued partnership and support remained an important part of her journey through her transition into homeownership.

Agnes's story demonstrates that success does not happen in isolation. It is built through relationships, encouragement, resources, education, and community partners who work together to support families as they pursue their goals.

It truly takes a community.

A Successful Early Graduation

Agnes's FSS Contract of Participation was originally scheduled to end on March 31, 2027. Through her extraordinary commitment and hard work, she accomplished her goals ahead of schedule.

Agnes graduated early from the FSS Program and successfully transitioned from rental assistance into homeownership.

As part of her successful FSS graduation, Agnes received an FSS escrow payout of $29,586 - a meaningful financial resource as she begins this exciting new chapter as a homeowner. Agnes shared that her FSS escrow funds will provide valuable support as she settles into her new home. She plans to use a portion of the funds toward installing new flooring and purchasing a new washer and dryer. She also plans to put at least $10,000 into her savings, continuing the strong financial habits she developed throughout her FSS journey and maintaining a financial foundation for her family's future.

Agnes's story represents so much more than a graduation.

It represents a mother who set a goal and remained committed to it.

It represents the power of saving $25 at a time.

It represents education, career advancement, financial growth, and perseverance.
And it represents the impact that can happen when an individual is determined to succeed and a community comes together to help make that success possible.

On behalf of Executive Director Lorraine Hocker, the Lake County Housing Authority, the FSS Team, and all of the community partners who played a role in Agnes's journey, we extend our sincere congratulations to Agnes on all that she has accomplished.

We are proud that her FSS journey brought her to this remarkable milestone-graduation, increased financial stability, and homeownership for herself and her family.

We wish Agnes and her family many wonderful years in their new Beach Park home and a future filled with continued success, happiness, and opportunity.