After 33 years in the city, Josh lives and breathes Chicago. But growing up in a family of eight in Humboldt Park, he often found himself in survival mode, working against immense odds to secure a future he could be proud of. For Josh, life in his neighborhood was a challenge unlike any other, but his community came through for him in ways he never expected when he needed it most.
Family struggles led Josh to emancipate himself at 16, soon moving into the shelter at La Casa Norte in Humboldt Park. At age 20, his time in the shelter gave him enough stability to move into a place of his own, but with little work experience and steadily increasing rent costs, the financial burden eventually became too much to handle. At 24, he found himself homeless again.
"A call from LUCHA came right in the nick of time," Josh shared. "I was blessed to have the opportunity. I moved into the Humboldt Park Residence and had a nice little spot for myself."
In addition to a morale boost from holiday get-togethers and homebuying workshops in the building, Josh credits the affordability and resource connections at LUCHA's HPR building with giving him the chance to make a massive change in his life.
"I had so many jobs, it's not even funny. I can't even remember all of them. I was working as a dishwasher at the airport when Evelyn from LUCHA called me and asked if I'd want to be a desk clerk at HPR," Josh says. "I had the opportunity just because I was a resident and we had that relationship. I worked the desk the whole time I lived there, on and off for 8 years."
While Josh enjoyed the desk work in his building, he was still working 7 days a week across multiple jobs, doing his best to save up for his future. But the desk position opened his eyes to an industry that truly spoke to him-- and started him on the career journey he's in the midst of today.
"I was the go-to guy as a desk clerk. Whenever someone needed help with a housing application, or someone needed help understanding the eligibility requirements, I helped them. Before I knew it, I had some of the lingo down, and real knowledge about vouchers and subsidies," says Josh.
He regularly spoke with property managers at APMS, who managed his building and took notice of his initiative. One day, they let him know about an open position.
"I got the interview, and obviously I slammed it!" he says with a laugh.
After APMS helped him with trainings and certifications required for property management, he began the job he holds today-- one that has rewarded him and allowed him to give back in a way that's deeply personal to him and his history.
"In order to be successful, you have to reach a basic comfort zone. Once you have that, you can actually start applying yourself to what you want to make yourself into," he says. "My favorite part of my work now is when I get to call people and tell them they've been approved for an apartment. You can hear the energy, how happy and thankful they are."
Now, with some experience under his belt and a salary boost, Josh is living in LUCHA's newest affordable housing complex, Encuentro Square. This year, in his brand new one-bedroom unit, he's purchased a car, and is saving up for a condo of his own. As he continues his path as a property manager, he's determined to show his residents how affordable housing can change their lives, just like it changed his.
"Affordable housing is a tool, a gift, a blessing. There's no reason to be ashamed of asking for this kind of help," Josh told us. "When people hear 'affordable housing,' I want them to hear that there's hope for relief-- that you can make it to the next step." ■
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Learn more about how Association House and LUCHA are changing the face of affordable housing together at lucha.org.
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