On a hot Thursday morning, Mo Poura has a smile on his face and a sense of purpose as he parks a large transport van in front of Arbor Terrace apartments. Mo drives appointment vans for Foundation Communities’ Supported Employment program taking residents to medical offices, banks, even recreational outings. This time, he’s taking Arbor residents to a grocery store. Mo feels good knowing the work he does helps residents not have to rely on others for rides, or pay Uber and Lyft.
“I think it’s extremely helpful,” said Poura. “The majority of them don’t have any transportation, and a huge portion of them can’t drive. They have disabilities.”
A resident of Spring Terrace apartments, Mo says no one benefits more from the appointment van program than him. It not only provides him with a source of income doing what he loves to do, it also makes him feel like he’s doing something worthwhile. He admits that he became depressed during the pandemic, just sitting alone in his apartment. You can take a virtual ride on the new appointment van with Mo Poura by watching the video below.
The van Mo is driving on this day is brand new and comes courtesy of St. David’s Foundation (SDF) – part of a grants package that totals nearly $5.9 million to Foundation Communities. About half of the grants package will pay for health-related services for our residents, and the other half will help fund construction of the Parker Lane Apartments in southeast Austin. Here’s what St. David’s Foundation says about why they are giving so generously to Foundation Communities.
“We believe that having a place to call home is essential for individual, family, and community well-being. Foundation Communities not only offers our neighbors a safe place to live, but they also create an uplifting and trusting space for community and social connection,” said Edward Burger, Ph.D., President and CEO, St. David’s Foundation. “We are proud to support a range of services at Foundation Communities’ properties including on-site services to high-need families and older adults, community-wide tax assistance and insurance navigation through the Prosper Center, and their broader efforts designed to increase health, economic security, and family resilience for all of their residents.”
