Driving up to our Daffodil Apartments in southeast Austin, you immediately notice the array of plants growing on Irene Vera’s front porch. Irene, a Daffodil resident for more than six years, spends her days gardening, caring for her dogs and helping her friends and neighbors keep the place where they live looking its best.

“I get along with everybody,” Irene said of her fellow Daffodil residents. “Everybody knows me well.”

It was Irene’s friendly and outgoing spirit that moved her to take charge of the community’s recycling initiative last fall. She explained that after her two grandchildren participated in a recycling program at Smith Elementary, they encouraged her to recycle too.

Last fall Foundation Communities staff visited Daffodil to demonstrate recycling protocol, but did not reach everybody at their doorstep. That’s where Irene stepped in. She reached out to her neighbors to explain the importance of recycling and offer her assistance.

Two months after these outreach efforts, our green initiatives team discovered that Daffodil residents had more than doubled their recycling rate. As a result, we plan on expanding our recycling education to more Foundation Communities properties.

Becoming the recycling champion at Daffodil provided Irene with the opportunity to stay engaged with her neighbors and take care of the home she loves.

“It keeps my mind busy and keeps me from going into the depression I get into from time to time,” Irene said.

After a severe back injury and other health problems forced Irene to leave her job at a shipping and receiving warehouse nearly 10 years ago, Irene said that there have been times when she has shut herself off from the world.

But being part of the Daffodil community – where people know and care for her and the kids playing outside wave hello – has been a source of strength.

“My neighbors look out for me, like I look out for them,” Irene said.

Going forward, Irene will remain a recycling advocate with the hopes that more friends and neighbors get on board.

“Recycling is part of the pride in having a clean space to live,” Irene added. “I’m trying to get everybody to help and do their part as well.”

Resident education, community gardens and green buildings are all ways that we demonstrate our commitment to sustainability. Our green initiatives help residents, like Irene Vera, enjoy healthier lives, contribute in meaningful ways and lessen our impact on the environment.

When Leslie Goodson and her three sons moved into an Austin homeless shelter, she felt like her world was crumbling. Leslie had overcome a lot already – her first son’s extended hospital stays due to a rare heart condition and the sudden death of her husband. At the time, Leslie’s estranged relationship with her father left her with nowhere else to turn.

“I was devastated,” she said.

Leslie learned about Foundation Communities while at the shelter. With our support, she gradually managed to get back on her feet and provide her family with a safe, affordable place to call home.

After moving into her new apartment, Leslie decided that she wanted to change her life for good and build a better future for herself and her sons. She utilized our onsite support services and took advantage of our financial stability programs.

Leslie has participated in Foundation Communities’ money management classes and one-on-one financial coaching. She also had her taxes prepared for free at our Community Tax Centers and, in August, she joined a brand-new savings program that encourages families to set aside money each month for emergencies.

The 42-year-old single mom said she now knows how to manage her budget, improve her credit score, and save for the future. With the help of her financial coach, Leslie is also actively pursuing her goal of opening a soul food restaurant in Austin.

“I love food and I love the feeling that I get when I feed people and they’re happy,” she said.

In addition to her full-time job as a medical assistant at a local clinic, Leslie spends her time researching other restaurants, coming up with menu ideas, and figuring out pricing. Recently, she catered a few small parties and she is considering the possibility of owning and operating her own food truck.

“With the steps I’m taking, slowly, but surely, I know [my restaurant] is going to be successful,” she said. Leslie said she will continue to work towards her goal, with the hope of one day passing her business on to her sons. In the meantime, the budding entrepreneur says she knows her sons are proud of all the progress she has made financially – and in life.