Couple embodies success
of homeless housing program
Al and Vicki
Lea appeared in OHFA’s annual report in 2003, the year they moved
into the newly built Pershing Center in Oklahoma City. Its
construction partly funded by OHFA Affordable Housing Tax Credits,
the Pershing Center helps individuals move from homelessness to
self-sufficiency.
Al and Vicki Lea water the plants in front of
their new three bedroom house.
Three years ago, Al and Vicki Lea lived in one of the 60 apartments
at the Pershing Center. They were two of many individuals there
attempting to turn their lives around after a series of bad
decisions linked to crime and drugs left them homeless.
"[The Pershing Center] definitely opened doors for me that I thought
I wouldn’t have," Vicki said.
In
addition to housing, the Pershing Center provided them with meals,
12-step recovery meetings, life skills classes, character building
sessions and a back-to-work program.
After successfully completing its program, the Pershing Center hired
Vicki as a receptionist. Today, Vicki continues to work at the
Pershing Center but in her new position as an accountant and a tax
credits compliance assistant. Al is also employed at the Pershing
Center as its facilities supervisor.
The
personal development skills Vicki learned at the Pershing Center are
extensive.
However, the ones she values the most are her job skills, her
communication skills, her character skills and her ability to trust
others and to be trusted.
With these skills, Vicki took charge of improving her life.
Specifically, she wanted to repair her relationships with her family
and to earn back their respect.
"That’s really one of the greatest things, my children and I have
grown closer and closer," she said.
The
Pershing Center is a source of many fond memories for Vicki. One of
her favorites is when she and Al renewed their wedding vows in the
Pershing Center’s dining room last April.
In
front of family and friends, most of them Pershing Center staff and
residents, they finally had the wedding they had always wanted.
Decorated in lavender and pink and with flowers and candles, the
dining area was unrecognizable, even to the people that worked
there.
"It
looked like a wedding chapel," Vicki said.
Vicki said it was a special day because it was their first wedding.
Ten years ago, they married at a court house because at the time
they were on drugs and had no money for a wedding.
When City Care Inc., which manages the Pershing Center, built five
homes in 2005 in the West Lawn Gardens neighborhood just two blocks
away, the Leas signed a lease-purchase agreement and moved into one
of the homes.
In
just two and a half years, they will achieve homeownership, a goal
they discussed in the 2003 OHFA annual report.
Located in one of the poorest areas in Oklahoma City, nearly all of
the homes in West Lawn Gardens are in major disrepair.
Regardless, Al and Vicki take pride in their neighborhood. They are
excited to be part of the revitalization efforts in the area.
"Our goal is to change the face of this neighborhood with new homes
and new people," Vicki said.
Al
is the newly elected president of the West Lawn Gardens Neighborhood
Association.
"It
started out as a three person deal and we now have it up to about
twelve people," Al said.
The
organization recently secured grant money to purchase new playground
equipment for the park and two entrance signs for the neighborhood.
Although the Pershing Center boasts a 71 percent success rate, it
can’t produce miracles. The non-profit organization provides the
resources and the support, but its residents have to want to change.
"It’s been a lot of hard work, but we’ve had a lot of support in
helping us achieve our goals and dreams," Vicki said.
Despite their successful track record the past three years, Al and
Vicki continue to strive for self improvement. They realize their
old life wasn’t that long ago.
"I
don’t ever want to forget where I came from or become complacent,"
Vicki said.
With rewarding jobs, a great marriage, a new home, and renewed
family relationships, the Leas lead very different lives because of
the help they received at the Pershing Center.
The
Leas know that with dedication and hard work the world still has
more to offer them.
"The future looks really bright for us thanks to this program,"
Vicki said.
Al
is more to the point. "Upward and onward," he said.
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