Success stories
Marissa
“They said, ‘Your money order is fraudulent,’” explains Marissa, an
E&ES
client in the Chicago Housing Authority’s (CHA) FamilyWorks program.
The 37-year-old single mother of two was stunned when her property
management company explained the situation.
“I couldn’t believe it,” she says. “I did everything right, always
paid on time, and then this happens.”
Unsure what to do and handicapped by a severe learning disability,
Marissa called E&ES Housing Case Manager Patricia Guyton-Hudson, who
came to her house immediately.
“She didn’t understand it either, so she went to the currency
exchange location [where the money order was purchased] right away,”
Marissa explains.
The exchange’s manager said that a string of similar incidents had
occurred and reissued the order to Patricia. Without additional
incident, she took the order to Marissa, who immediately forwarded
it to her leasing agent.
“That’s what’s great about the [FamilyWorks] program,” she says.
“Whatever problem you have, they’ll help you.”
Patricia considers such service essential to the program’s success.
“Anything [clients] need, we’re here to help.”