Regaining Control of Her Life

Lycoming-Clinton Counties Commission
for Community Action, Inc. (STEP)

Sandra Andrus

Before she was twenty-years-old, Sandra Andrus had completed two stints in a drug and alcohol rehabilitation program, lived in a half way house and become a single mother.

In January 2000, Sandra was receiving a state subsidy and had just received her General Equivalency Diploma (GED). The county assistance office referred her to the Lycoming-Clinton Counties Commission for Community Action, Inc. (STEP) because she qualified for STEP's transportation services to the job she just had secured.   Sandra also qualified for STEP's Child Care Information Services (CCIS) to subsidize the cost of child care for her six-month-old son.

Sandra did not have a vehicle and knew it was crucial to have a reliable source of transportation for her daily commutes to and from work and day care. After purchasing a vehicle with her income tax return, she focused on her financial stability, providing a secure living environment for her family and living a drug-free lifestyle.  

In 2001, Sandra had a second child. She became a youth program participant through CareerLink and met weekly with her CareerLink caseworker to improve her interviewing and job search skills. To fulfill a mandated 400 hours of community service, Sandra volunteered at a local pregnancy and support counseling center. While assisting other young mothers she was offered a paid position. When the center closed, Sandra found a job at a local homeless shelter, assisting residents with supportive services. By the spring of 2002 she was employed as a primary advisor, assisting individuals with behavioral health issues.

In 2005, after the birth of her third child, Sandra completed continuing education units through a local technology center. The training equipped her with the computer skills she needed to obtain an office position. She was hired as an office assistant for STEP's Outreach Program where her vast knowledge of resources in the community, made Sandra the perfect person for the position.

Though things were going well, Sandra still struggled with bills. She enrolled in the OnTrack Customer Assistance program offered by Pennsylvania Power and Light (PP&L). According to Sandra, "The OnTrack enrollment through the STEP Outreach Office was of major significance because of the instant gratification of watching my debt decline.   It was the real key to making me want to focus on paying my bills on time each month. That program made me more aware of budgeting and accepting responsibility for my financial decisions."

STEP, Inc. is the Community Action Agency providing services and programs to low-income residents in Clinton and Lycoming Counties.