Success Stories

 
 

RYAN LONG - CEMENT MASONS LOCAL 555

I am a proud cement mason in Local 555 and I learned about this agency a couple of years ago when my kids and I faced an unimaginable tragedy.

I truly believe that all the love and support I received from LCSA and my union, Cement Masons 555, helped me through to becoming a journeyman. Without the underpinning support at that time, I could have very easily burned out. The hardship services that LCSA provides could be the difference between somebody being able to achieve all their dreams through their hard work or giving into their hardship and quitting everything because it’s just too much to face alone.

Labor’s Community was that difference in my life. LCSA inspired me by showing me they care about what people go through. It’s those little acts of kindness that can change the course of people's lives forever. And if sharing my story can help people understand how important this agency is to apprenticeships and labor unions, I will gladly let people into my life, to see how they made an impact when it mattered most.

SHAWN LOE & DENYSE SCHWENGELS-LOE - ATU LOCAL 757

We would have been homeless on the streets without LCSA.

We got into their transitional housing program through the union and LCSA. We usually didn't qualify for things because we are married and only I (Shawn) can work. We entered the program after being unable to afford our rent on our home, and then running our credit out on motel rooms.

The transitional housing program helped us; we stepped into a minefield of resources when we entered the program because it is tailor-fit to meet your barriers. They helped us with wrap-around services like food stamps and disability. They had funding that helped pay our utility debt, legal fees, overdue storage unit bills, and cell phones. It was two years to the day that we entered the transitional housing program, and then entered into our own home that we got to pick! It was a blessing and the best thing that could have happened to us.

N.H. - ATU LOCAL 757

I heard about LCSA through my union representative at ATU 757. My landlord had recently sold the home my family had been renting for the last 5 years. My family became homeless after that and we were having trouble getting over that hurdle.

The services provided by LCSA had a huge impact on me and my family's well-being. LCSA helped us not only with housing assistance but also with a food card and their holiday presents program. Having LCSA to call, and knowing there was someone to listen and help made a huge difference. We all need to be heard, especially at a time when a child is going through an experience like this with us.

Shortly after receiving assistance, everything started falling back into place. I started a new job at Trimet and got back into a stable housing situation. LCSA is needed. People need the support and tools they make available for our community. Everyone in the community needs LCSA, and I can't recommend it enough.

QUINCY ASHTON-BAKER - IBEW LOCAL 48

I was living my best life when out of nowhere, everything came crashing down in an instant after being hit by an Amazon van. Thankfully, I was active with my training center and they put me in touch with a local non-profit called Labor’s Community Service Agency which assists apprentices in hardship. This agency helped me get stable and took a lot of stress off of my shoulders.

Since getting assistance from LCSA, I feel blessed and hopeful for the future. I feel like there is now a plan in place that can prop me up until things get on track, and that everything is going to work out the way it is supposed to. This program was in place at such a crucial time in my life and has been a tremendous blessing. It kept me stable while I was facing a hardship and in turn, it’s helping me be able to complete my apprenticeship. Words can’t describe my appreciation.

MICHELLE PEREZ - IBEW LOCAL 48

Although growing up had a lot of challenges, both my parents showed me determination and how to always fight for what you want.

I bring hard work and pride to the position I do, and to be honest, I thought that I was so lucky to get into this trade. I now realize that it is the IBEW who is the lucky one to have me and all that I bring to the table. Thank you (LCSA) for helping me break the curse of all the barriers that held my family back from financial success and security, despite them always investing their whole self in their work. I am standing in place for every one of them who were not able to achieve their American dream of financial success. I am so honored to be leading the way!

If it wasn’t for the assistance, I probably would have just found another average job and not have been able to achieve this opportunity at financial freedom. Thank you LCSA!

VICTOR SALAMANCA-SANCHEZ - CARPENTERS LOCAL 503

I have worked in construction for about 10 years now. When I started in this line of work I was paid a really low wage, due to not having my citizenship. It was a good day when I finally got my citizenship and legal rights to work, and I was able to pursue my idea of the American dream. I always wanted to join a union so I could stand up for my rights, take classes, have more learning opportunities, and of course earn a family wage to provide for my loved ones.

You could imagine my disappointment when I was told that my job site was slowing down and I would be laid off. I was able to use my savings to pay bills for a time but eventually, I began to fall behind on rent. I confided in my apprenticeship coordinator and she referred me to Labor's Community Service Agency who helped me get caught up on my bills. While engaging in the rent program, they also told me about other community resources and an amazing holiday program that offered food, gift cards, and gifts for my children in our time of need. It was extremely helpful and they made me feel like somebody cared about protecting all the progress we had made as a family.