New Home, New Life: O'Sheena's Story
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"Everybody wants to feel like they’re part of something that’s bigger than themselves; working at CommonBond lets me contribute to society and really make a difference." - O'Sheena Henry |
“The three weeks we spent sharing one room in a shelter felt like three months,” O’Sheena recalls as she talks about what life was like for her family in the fall of 2004 - a time she calls “a real rough patch.”
The single mom had a full-time job, but was spending a sizable portion of her income to rent the only place she could afford. When the ceiling in her youngest daughter’s room started to cave in, she packed up her three children and moved to a new city.
Taking Steps to Succeed
O’Sheena quickly found a new part-time job- and because the job happened to be at the CommonBond office, she learned about housing options for families like hers. The family spent a year on the waiting list (“nope, no special treatment for employees,” she recalls with a laugh) and moved into a two-bedroom apartment at Torre de San Miguel Homes.“As a single person raising three kids, my biggest fear is becoming homeless again,” O’Sheena says. “Without CommonBond, I just can’t see us being able to afford an adequate place.”
Today, O’Sheena works full-time at CommonBond and the jump in her income has allowed her to move the family into a three bedroom apartment. Her children are thriving; oldest daughter Subira, age 17, and son Hashim, 13 got top scores on state assessment tests, and 9-year-old Kachina’s reading scores jumped two grade levels with the help of CommonBond Advantage Center Tutors.
Making a Difference at CommonBond
With a new promotion to CommonBond site manager, O’Sheena is continuing to help other families like hers. “Not only am I thankful to live here, but I’m thankful for the chance to work here,” she says. “Everybody wants to feel like they’re part of something that’s bigger than themselves; working at CommonBond lets me contribute to society and really make a difference.”
Read the next Resident Voice: A Home full of Grandparents: Carol's story
Learn more about Torre De San Miguel, the affordable housing community that O'Sheena calls home.
