How Community Assistance Program Transformed a Family

Posted On: August 25, 2025

Angela McNeil was juggling it all – and barely keeping the pieces from falling. The 35-year-old mother was working as a pharmacy technician at AdventHealth, completing a nursing internship at Halifax Health Medical Center, attending classes at Daytona State College, and raising two children while navigating a difficult divorce. When her credit score plummeted and she faced eviction, her carefully balanced world seemed ready to collapse.

"I was determined to build a better life for my kids, but I felt like I was drowning," McNeil recalled. "I had all these dreams, but the reality of trying to make it work was overwhelming."

That's when McNeil discovered she wasn't alone in her fight. She turned to Volusia County’s Family Self-Sufficiency Program, which is funded by a federal grant to connect families with essential resources including transportation, education and job training, employment and financial counseling, and even homeownership guidance.

Funded by the Community Service Block Grant, the voluntary program is designed to assist low-risk homeless households to obtain rental housing and work toward economic self-sufficiency through case management, supportive services, limited financial assistance, and referrals to community partners for training and educational opportunities. Volusia County's Community Assistance

Division partners with local schools, businesses, the UF/IFAS Extension, and social service agencies to ensure participants have access to the tools they need to build sustainable, independent lives.

By creating pathways to economic independence through comprehensive support services, Volusia County’s Family Self-Sufficiency Program represents exactly this kind of community investment.

To participate in the Family Self-Sufficiency program, an individual or family must meet certain criteria.

"Due to limited resources, it’s imperative that our participants successfully complete the six-month program,” explained FSS Supervisor Amanda McClain. “The moment I met Angela, I knew she would succeed. She had this incredible drive – she wasn't just looking for a handout, she wanted to build something lasting."

That instinct proved right. While most participants complete at least six modules of financial counseling, McNeil threw herself into all 12 available courses.

"This was my chance to really learn and grow," McNeil said with enthusiasm. "Amanda created this safe space where I could be honest about my struggles and ambitious about my goals. It felt like having a friend in my corner who genuinely believed in what I could achieve."

The investment paid off. This May, McNeil received her nursing degree. Before she could even update her resume, Halifax Health Medical Center – where she'd been interning – immediately hired her as a registered nurse.

"Programs like FSS don't just change individual lives," McClain noted. "When we help someone like Angela succeed, we're investing in entire families and strengthening our whole community. Her children are watching their mother achieve her dreams – that's a powerful lesson that will shape their own futures."

Learn more about Volusia County’s Family Self-Sufficiency Program at https://www.volusia.org/familyselfsufficiency.