Duan's Story
When Duan left prison, he was determined to change his life around. He contacted Paraquad for assistance finding accessible housing and pursuing a college degree. Kim, an Independent Living Specialist, began working with Duan and created a plan that lead to the attainment of his goals. There were many obstacles to be overcome in order for Duan to live independently in the community, primarily his credit and criminal history.
Duan was placed on a three-year waiting list for public housing. Since he didn’t have a credit score and had a criminal background, he would not be able to rent a market apartment. In the meantime, he boarded with friends and family members but his options were limited. “I was between a rock and a hard place.” The only solution was to try and purchase a home.
Duan created a budget based on his income and began looking for affordable and accessible homes. He eventually found a two bedroom home in a quiet neighborhood. Then his financing began to fall-through. He thought he might be living on the streets. He was not going to give up. Fortunately, a representative from Pulaski Bank sat down with Duan and researched every possible loan product. Together, they found a stable loan.
In October of 2008, Duan was able to move into his new home. He has maintained employment and is in his second semester at Florissant Valley Community College. He would eventually like to start his own cleaning business. He said, “Paraquad is a great place to get help. Kim went out of her way to help. It is a great place to assist you if you are willing to assist yourself."
