Robbins tackles felony record, becomes self-sufficient

story and photos by Roy Hill
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Lakeisha Robbins knows the difficulties of facing joblessness, a felony record, and long odds. But she also knows the rewards of finding a job, becoming a provider for her children, and achieving self-sufficiency.

On April 15, Robbins became the 25th graduate of the Fort Smith Housing Authority’s Family Self Sufficiency program.

“I hope the obstacles I have overcome and the job skills I have learned can educate someone else that they can do it,” Robbins said. “They can become successful.”

Robbins completed the program with $16,000 in escrow money and a new job as a consultant with Jenny Craig in Central Mall. According to a press release from the Fort Smith Housing Authority, participants in the FSS program earn escrow money based on the assistance they have received in the past, and are awarded the escrow money upon successful completion of the program.

“It is one-person-at-a-time training,” said Family Self Sufficiency counselor Elaine Burton. “That’s what we value. We teach them to take the right paths, and they become the mentor to their own children. When they have self-worth, they have something to hold on to.”

Burton said the FSS program has been under the Fort Smith Housing Authority since 1995. There are 49 other people are participating in the volunteer program, which is open to those who are Section 8 Housing Assistance clients.

“They can apply for the program and are usually referred to it,” Burton said. “It can be very difficult if they lack support from their families, or don’t have transportation or child care. If they don’t have those things, they usually don’t make it through. The family has to be very supportive of them.”

Robbins spoke of the difficulties she encountered in completing the program she started in 2003.

“The road back to confident living — I didn’t think it would be as hard as it was,” Robbins said. “When you are out there used to doing nothing, that seems like the thing to do. It’s hard to buckle down and get on the right path.”

One of the obstacles dogging her path was a felony conviction.

“I had a felony record that followed me for 10 years,” said Robbins. “I had gotten fired from jobs that I really wanted … because they found out about my record, I lost the jobs. There was a 2-year lapse in employment, and my record kept me from getting another job.”

Robbins also faced all the challenges of being a single mother of three children, and unpaid traffic fines that had become warrants for her arrest. By May 2008, Robbins had earned over $13,000 in her escrow account, but was on the verge of quitting the program.

“Lakeisha was about ready to give up,” Burton said. “We pulled together a special training program for her.”

And then Robbins received notice that her 10-year suspension was up, and she was able to have her record expunged.

“That opened doors to interviews for me,” Robbins said of the clear record.

Burton signed Robbins on as a part-time custodian for the Fort Smith Housing Authority. And then Robbins met Charli Chavez, Administrative and Accounting Assistant for the Housing Authority. Robbins said she learned a lot from her new mentor.

“We decided to give her a second chance because of all the money she had accrued,” Chavez said. “We wanted her to not lose it. She was avoiding our calls because she didn’t’ know how to handle it all. We wanted to get her turned around and going in the right direction again.”

Chavez’s personal support grew into a strong friendship, which Robbins credits for helping her through the difficulties. Chavez said she was Robbins’ place to come and vent and seek guidance. And Robbins said her faith was another source of help in her completion of the program.

“She always encouraged me,” Robbins said. “She prayed for me and my family. She also rewarded me for the things I accomplished. She took me and my family out to eat, and to the movies, and turned out to be a wonderful friend.”

Now that she has a full-time job, Robbins looks to move from the duplex she’s renting, and become a home owner. Her ultimate goal is a bachelor’s degree in nutrition.

“Never give up, and keep on trying,” Robbins said. “A lot of people will let you down along the way, but you have to learn to pick yourself up. A lot of people don’t understand that. It’s easy to get sidetracked, but you have to do it yourself.”