Franctz has long been a hard worker. But lingering pain from a past surgery impacted his ability to maintain his warehouse job. Without income and as his medical bills piled up, a friend recommended that Franctz connect to Community Progress Council.
As with every person who reaches out, a Resource Navigator asked about immediate needs. When Franctz shared his short-term goals and interest in working toward stability, the Resource Navigator connected him to a Progress Coach, Wendy. For Franctz, it was just the guidance he needed.
“I work together with Wendy on many subjects,” Franctz said. “For example, we work about insurance, to go to the doctor, my hospital bill.”
Wendy helped Franctz to apply for the HealthyCare Card (HCC), a program of Healthy Community Network, which provides discounts to care for those who require financial assistance with their medical care. He also worked toward his goals of getting his driver’s license, and pursuing employment.
“I used to work in the warehouse,” Franctz said. “[But] every time I do the physical work, I have pain. I need a job that’s not too heavy. That’s not easy.”
It’s been a journey since he moved from Haiti to York three years ago.
Through participation in Community Progress Council’s “Getting Ahead In A Just-Gettin’-By-World” program, Franctz was able to unpack how poverty affects his life and his community. With his fellow participants, he focused on building resources, developing a vision for the future, and creating a plan for getting ahead.
“It was interesting to learn about how to manage our income, and how to make progress in our income,” Franctz said. “It was a lot.”
For now, his part-time job is a step in the right direction — as was obtaining his driver’s license and preparing financially to purchase a car, thanks to ongoing work with and encouragement from his Coach. In time, he’d like to pursue his CDL license and work as a school bus driver.
Working with his Coach, Wendy, has been a good experience, he says, especially as he doesn’t have a large support network nearby.
“She’s very patient,” Franctz explains. “She is always ready to help. When I have a goal and I go to her, she always provides the help.”
“I have to keep looking for a job,” he adds. “That’s life.”