Chelan woman finds inspiration, confidence in United Way’s anti-poverty program

Austin is just one of the faces of people in poverty in North Central Washington who is on a path to lift herself out of those financial straits with a lot of hard work, creativity and some timely assistance from community members who have stepped forward to lend encouragement and support as part of a unique United Way anti-poverty effort called Opportunity Community.

Austin told me had been a stay-at-home mom for 10 years before things fell apart with her husband a couple of years ago. She was determined to put her kids’ needs first and, while she could have worked tending bar, she wasn’t willing to take that much time away from them. Her youngest is 5 and the oldest is 9.

Austin, 42, who graduated from Eastmont High School, struggled with the shame and anxiety associated with being poor, which caused her to feel stuck and hopeless. Her apartment manager told her about the United Way’s anti-poverty effort and encouraged her to participate. In early November, she and other individuals in poverty got together in a special one-day conference that included a number of community members who have committed to helping neighbors in need with moral support, encouragement and other non-monetary assistance.

In the parlance of the Opportunity Community program, these community helpers are called navigators. Austin said it was inspiring to have all of these caring individuals stand up at the meeting and pledge to help neighbors in poverty. This helps overcome that feeling of isolation that people in poverty feel acutely.

The Opportunity Community effort was pioneered by Dr. Donna Beegle, who came from what is called generational poverty — poverty that persists — and found a way out of that situation with the help of a few key individuals who took an interest, encouraged her and were willing to open doors. The conference is designed to give these neighbors in poverty the confidence, encouragement and support that allow them to begin overcoming the shame and guilt and start aggressively building a better life.

Opportunity Community navigators are trained to understand the psychological effects of poverty so that they can provide thoughtful assistance. Austin says there is a lot of hopelessness among the people in poverty she knows in her community. Austin doesn’t have an official navigator, but works directly with Kenzie English, United Way’s community impact coordinator. 

By the same token, people who have never experienced poverty, she said, have no idea how difficult it is to get out. “I don’t think people get it,” said Austin. “I think people who haven’t been there don’t get it and don’t have empathy.” By the same token, those in poverty often aren’t aware of what resources are available. The program breaks down those barriers.

The kind and caring way that Beegle meets and greets those in poverty, said Austin, send a clear message that they are valued as human beings and that she understands their struggles. “I love her,” said Austin. That sense of connection and acceptance is hard to find out on the street. Judgment, condemnation and averted eyes tend to be more typical responses.

Since that conference, Austin has found the confidence to start networking in the community, building her address book of professionals who might be able to provide encouragement and support. She’s spent some time at Wenatchee Valley College and is working to figure out how she can apply the talents that made her a television news producer into another career.

She is adamant that she’s going to be out of poverty sooner rather than later. With the help of the United Way’s Opportunity Community program, she said, “it shouldn’t take me too much longer.” That’s the kind of confidence this program instills. 

Individuals who are interested in becoming navigators or supporting the program should contact Kenzie English, the Community Impact Coordinator at United Way (662-8261) or [email protected].