My name is Jennifer Showerman. I am serving as an AmeriCorps member at the Oakland Livingston Human Service Agency (OLHSA) in the Community Economic Services department. Within our department we assist with foreclosure prevention, financial management education, homebuyer education and free tax services. Our goal is to help families while changing their lives.
I came to OLHSA a couple of years ago as a work-study student through my university. Through that position I learned how OLHSA has assisted our community for decades. I was excited seek a position that allowed me to continue working with OLHSA and I learned of a position helping with foreclosure. I was eager to help my community with housing issues as I myself have had similar struggles. This led me to becoming an AmeriCorps member. I am now part of an even bigger group who focuses on serving and educating families across Michigan. This opportunity has helped me fulfill a need in myself.
On a daily basis I can be found buried in a pile of papers with a to-do list a mile long. There is never an end to the need. I am contacting clients to set up appointments to discuss how we can assist them with their housing needs. Some clients need a little bit of extra time to tell their story. After hearing their stories, letting them know what we need to see from them and how we can help, they often thank me
and say they already feel less stressed about their situation. By letting them know that we understand their crisis and can help navigate them, they feel much less alone and scared. The sigh of relief makes the piles of papers and mile long to-do list worth it everyday. I am proud to say that I am an AmeriCorps member!
Jennifer Showerman is an AmeriCorps member at Oakland Livingston Human Service Agency in Howell.
This post is part of a blog series highlighting the viewpoints of Michigan AmeriCorps Foreclosure Prevention Corps members serving at different foreclosure host sites around Michigan. View information about the program or see more stories in this series.