Hi! We’re Jenna Schuder and Anna Carlson Schattauer, Americorps VISTAs at Urban Homeworks (UHW). We work in coordination with the Northside Achievement Zone (NAZ) so our technical job title is NAZ Housing Liaisons. The mission of the NAZ is to “build a culture of achievement in a geographic Zone in North Minneapolis to ensure all youth graduate from high school college-ready” (northsideachievementzone.org).
Jenna came to work at UHW and with the NAZ because of her support for the growing culture of achievement in North Minneapolis and saw this VISTA Housing Liaison position as a great opportunity to become a part of the changing culture on the North side. Following her core belief that empowerment is the way to lasting and sustainable change, Anna wanted to become a part of the work and mission of the NAZ and UHW. Anna saw this VISTA position as a Housing Liaison as a great opportunity to advocate for and support families looking for dignified and stable housing in North Minneapolis.
We strive to provide a range of resources for NAZ families who are searching for long-term housing on the Northside. Securing stable, dignified housing plays a big role in ensuring that youth are college-ready by decreasing mobility and helping kids stay in the same school year to year. What follows is the story of a family we worked with this year. Her name has been changed to protect her privacy.
Jarahia and her family were referred to us back in March when she first connected with the NAZ. We talked with Jarahia about her housing goals and devised an achievement plan. Ultimately Jarahia dreamed of leaving her current trend of homeless shelters and high mobility for a more stable and secure housing career. Jarahia was determined to create a promising future for herself and her children.
On August 15, one of Jarahia’s dreams came to life. She and her children moved into one of UHW’s newly rehabbed duplexes. She had spent many months achieving each piece of this housing puzzle which included obtaining a full-time job and completing NAZ’s Family Academy parenting classes. And coincidentally, Jarahia was due to deliver her sixth child on Moving Day!
Jarahia had not yet delivered her baby so the move-in proceeded as scheduled. Due to Jarahia’s connection with the Northside Achievement Zone, staff members at the NAZ took time out of their work day to help Jarahia move her and her children’s belongings out of storage and into their new home. Jarahia was so excited to be in her new house that she stayed up until four in the morning unpacking and making sure every piece of furniture and household item was in its right place.
Three days later, Jarahia delivered her child, a healthy baby boy. Due to the wrap-around support provided by the partnership with the NAZ and Urban Homeworks’ VISTAs, Jarahia was able to bring her new baby to a fully furnished, newly rehabbed home – something she had been dreaming about for years. Jarahia is just one of many Northside families who are striving to be part of the growing culture of achievement. At her lease signing, in response to the possibility of her moving in 10 years, Jarahia exclaimed excitedly, “I will be living in this house forever.”
-Jenna Schuder and Anna Carlson Schattauer, Urban Homeworks
This post is part of a recurring series sharing the work of AmeriCorps members and their contribution to community development in the Twin Cities. To learn more about AmeriCorps, visit their website.
