Many don't envision the next five days, much less the next five years. That's where Anderson comes in. At the Nevada County Department of Housing and Community Services, part of her job is helping Section 8 vouchers recipients get off vouchers and learn skills for a better-paying job.
Participants maintain a job and pay what rent they can.
If their pay increases, they put more toward rent, and more of their Section 8 money goes into escrow. At the end of five years, the escrow money is theirs, and many are off vouchers. Past participants have put their money toward becoming a registered nurse, attending junior college, making a down payment on a house and buying a reliable car. Success is always a great thing to witness. Despite the achievements, a few participants contacted by Anderson for The Union declined to be interviewed.