Undeterred by setbacks

Community Action Partnership for Somerset County (Tableland Services, Inc.)

Jaleen Vlcek

Jaleen Vlcek, a single mother of two children, worked full- and part-time jobs to provide for her family. Her son, diagnosed with autism, attended a school district that did not offer educational programs that met his needs and, as a result, had to be bussed to another district. Because this concerned Jaleen, she sought out school districts that met her son's educational needs.

When Jaleen found the appropriate school district, she knew she would have to move her family but was faced with finding safe and adequate housing. A friend of Jaleen's told her about the Homebuyers Education Workshops, offered by the Community Action Partnership for Somerset County (Tableland Services, Inc.). The workshop teaches potential homebuyers the safe and responsible way to obtain homeownership and offers pre-qualification with the United States Department of Agricultural (USDA) and assistance with down payment and closing costs.

In August 2004, Jaleen attended the eight-hour workshop course, received her certificate of completion and was pre-qualified for a USDA Rural Housing Home Loan. The next month, Jaleen returned to the Community Action Agency and met with Lisa Wengerd, family economic opportunity counselor, to complete the application process. Soon the application was approved for a USDA Rural Development Home Loan and Jaleen began looking for a home. By the end of the month, she had found a perfect home for her and her children. Jaleen contacted the realtor and signed a 60-day sales contract.

Although she was not aware of it, at the time Jaleen applied for the loan, the USDA was waiting for funding. That meant that Jaleen would also have to wait. When her 60-day sales contract expired, her realtor and the seller of the home began calling, asking her when they could expect the sale to be finalized.   Jaleen kept the lines of communication open, remaining calm, but the seller soon began putting pressure on her. It had been several months and now other people were interested in the house.  

Although she was determined to make this house her family's home, Jaleen began to panic when she was asked her for a deposit. She had some money saved but it was for inspection costs so a deposit was out of the question. Jaleen was somehow able to prevail without a deposit but became increasingly worried that she was going to lose her dream home. At that point, she contacted a church senior and friend for prayer.

In August 2005, a year after Jaleen had attended the homebuyers workshop, she again contacted Lisa at the Community Action Partnership because her application with USDA had expired and she needed to reapply quickly. Lisa assisted her with completing and mailing the application and shortly thereafter, she received a second USDA approval. However, once again, she would need to wait for funds.  

Finally, almost six months later, Jaleen received the USDA funds she had been so anxiously awaiting. Several weeks later, she and her children moved into their new home. Her son began attending his new school where he is improving every day.   Jaleen has the determination and will power to provide a better life for her children and is continually motivated by them.

This past June, Jaleen joined the Family Savings Account (FSA) program. She has established a target amount to save, which the Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) will match, so she can do renovations to her home.

Jaleen credits the Community Action Partnership for Somerset County (Tableland Services, Inc.) with educating her on homeownership, assisting her with her application for a USDA loan and providing her with the contacts she needed to achieve her dream of owning her own home. Just knowing she had somewhere to go with questions or problems made it much easier for her.

Community Action Partnership of Somerset County (Tableland Services, Inc.) provides programs to low-income residents of Somerset County to move them toward self-sufficiency.