Each year the Community Action Association of Pennsylvania honors outstanding individuals who, with the aid of their local Community Action Agency, have overcome poverty and achieved self-sufficiency.

The following is a story of triumph -- stories that chronicle the lives of people who overcame insurmountable odds. People with the drive to achieve more in life, but lacked the support network that would allow them to do so.

Men and women who started with a dream that was shattered either through circumstances such as an unhealthy relationship, an accident or an illness. Or their dreams ended suddenly with an unexpected loss of employment and an education that provided little chance of finding a family-sustaining job. But a common thread binds these people together -- Community Action Agencies.
 

Our 2007 Self Sufficiency Award Recipient

Marsha Peterman

A New Place to call Home

When Marsha Peterman realized her marriage was over. She decided it was best for her and her daughter to leave their home and re-gain control of their lives. Somerset County in Southwestern Pennsylvania is a rural area without public transportation. She relied on the kindness of a friend for moral support and to transport her.

During the drive from her former home, Marsha realized she had no place to go, no place to live and no place to work. Grasping at any hope, she called the Holiday Inn in Somerset where she had previously worked years ago. After explaining her situation to the manager, Marsha was allowed to stay at the hotel until she could find a permanent residence.

Having a place to sleep was good, but Marsha felt isolated and alone. She was not sure where to turn for help, or if she even qualified for any programs that could aid her and her daughter. That is when Marsha was directed to the Community Action Partnership for Somerset County and things began to change. A case manager placed Marsha in the Supportive Housing Program, an initial step to finding a permanent home. Marsha was filled with excitement at the prospect of owning her own place. The Holiday Inn allowed her to continue staying at the hotel until a permanent residence became available. At the same time, Marsha was offered a job at the hotel.

Within a few weeks a two-bedroom apartment became available, located a short distance from both the school and work. However, Marsha was still in need of transportation. The Community Action Partnership for Somerset County referred Marsha to the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare Vehicle Purchase Program. Purchasing a vehicle through the program, Marsha discovered it needed minor repairs to pass inspection. Community Action helped Marsha once again, assisting with getting her vehicle in driving condition through the Transportation to Work Program. With reliable transportation, Marsha was now able to work more overtime, furthering her goal of attaining a measure of self-sufficiency. The vehicle also provided her daughter a way to become more involved in worthwhile school activities, furthering her educational experience.

Congratulations Marsha!

Self-Sufficiency is a journey; a journey that is filled with pitfalls, dreams, hopes, adversity, disappointments and joy. The following stories reveal the extraordinary people and exceptional deeds of those who have faced this journey head-on. They chronicle the lives of people who overcame insurmountable odds. People with the extraordinary determination to achieve more in life, but lacked the support network that would allow them to do so..

This is the 11th year for the Community Action Association of Pennsylvania's Self-Sufficiency Awards.  CAAP proudly presented 31 individuals who demonstrate the accomplishments of self-determination and Community Action Agencies (CAAs) that have helped them to achieve a better life for themselves and their families.

For over 40 years Community Action Agencies have been moving people out of poverty and into self-sufficiency through flexible programming tailored to their communities. CAAs evaluate the needs of their individual communities and pro-vide the services their neighbors need to succeed. That ability to shape services to fit community needs is the extraordinary legacy of Community Action.

In Pennsylvania, 43 CAAs provide extensive services for low-income families in all 67 counties. These agencies work to empower the 1.3 million Pennsylvanians living in poverty, giving them the opportunity to gain the skills and confidence they need to succeed.
Each CAA is firmly embedded in its community as it works to empower indi­viduals and families. As you read these individual success stories, you'll see how widespread, far-reaching and creative our member agencies can be when it comes to fighting poverty. They identify community assets, stretch dollars, forge partnerships, gather resources, encourage volunteerism and tap into valu­able resources in many, many ways. Providing truly comprehensive solutions, CAAs often act as "the agency of last resort" in the overall spectrum of human services because of their all-embracing approach. You'll realize from reading these stories that Community Action Agencies are not intimidated by complex problems, multiple funding streams or formidable obstacles as they help people in poverty strive for a better life. They simply keep looking for solutions and provide extraordinary services to extraordinary people.