Path to Homeownership with FSS

For one Rockford mother, the dream of owning a home was always at the center of her goals. As a single parent, Dora faced financial instability and lacked the support system to make her vision a reality. “I knew I had goals, but I didn’t know exactly how to reach them. “Life kept getting in the way”, Dora Fenton recalls.

Dora’s path began to change when she joined the Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) program through Rockford Housing Authority. From the start, Dora saw the benefits the program offered and felt hope. With the encouragement of her case manager, she found guidance, accountability, and the motivation to keep pushing forward. “Having someone to talk to professionally, who understood my challenges, made all the difference,” she says.

Through FSS, Dora gained new knowledge about credit, financial planning, and the importance of setting small, steady goals. The program also gave her the confidence to pursue her career dreams. She enrolled in a pharmacy technician program, excelled with a 4.0 GPA, and realized she could achieve more than she ever thought possible.

“Before FSS, I didn’t really know much about credit or how important it was,” she explains. “Now I understand the steps I need to take to prepare for homeownership and long-term stability.”

Looking back, Dora believes without FSS she might still be stuck in the same cycle working hard but unable to move forward. “Sometimes, when it’s not required of you, you just don’t know what’s possible. FSS opened the doors for me,” Dora says.

To anyone considering the program, Dora’s advice is simple: “Don’t hesitate. Whether your goals are big or small, the program gives you the support to reach them.” For Dora, FSS has been more than just a program; it’s been the guide that turned her dream of stability and homeownership into a real path forward.

Connect with Laura Martinez for more FSS-related questions