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John Moss -- housing authority success
Nevada Daily Mail
Christmas Eve, three years ago, John Moss' landlord told him the rent was going up.
"I had to get out," Moss said.
Moss sought assistance for the rent, but none was available.
"I kept applying for jobs and finally got a job at Christian Healthcare as a CNA," he said.
"While I was in training, the Nevada Housing Authority called and said they would get me in a house. I remember being so happy I fell to my knees," he said.
Moss said that once he got into a house, he kept working to better himself.
"I got a better job at Southwest Community Services. That's a great job. A really fulfilling job," he said.
"They (Nevada Housing Authority) helped me get the job and helped during Christmas. They would have helped a lot more if I had asked. I didn't want to ask for help at first. They made me feel comfortable; that it was OK," he said.
"They helped me get a job; they helped me at Christmas," he said.
And two weeks ago Moss signed the papers to purchase a house.
Carol Branham, Nevada Housing Authority executive director, said that this program is based on self-sufficiency and they cannot get personally involved. But what she can do, because of her long involvement in Nevada in other roles than with the housing authority is to open doors for people that might not be open otherwise.
She said that Moss' first Christmas there; she asked a local organization to adopt his family for Christmas. And on her own drove to Kansas City to get a special toy for one his children.
"You know me," she said.
"She drove all the way to Kansas City to get something one of the kids asked for for Christmas. Out of the goodness of her heart," Moss said.
"Most people don't see people like that any more," he said.
That three years had a lot of ups and downs but with help and encouragement from family, he never completely gave up on himself.
"After the first year of trying to better myself. I got a little depressed, feeling that I would never accomplish my goals. Something hit me -- God never gives you more than you can handle," he said.
"With family support I paid off all my bills and finally got my credit improved to where I could get into a house," Moss said.
"Without my dad none of this would have been possible. I'm blessed to have such a good dad. He really should get a Father of the Year award. He taught me to never say die," Moss said. "He would always say 'The sun will rise tomorrow,'"
During those difficult early years Moss said he did whatever he had to survive, including living on food he was able to catch, trap or shoot.
He said that fried turtle was pretty good to eat, but despite what the television show "The Beverly Hillbillies" suggested, possums are nasty.
While Moss's history with the housing authority started three years ago his saga actually began five years ago when he arrived home from work and found his wife had picked up and taken their children, leaving him wondering about the children's welfare. After several years working through the courts, he now sees his children regularly and even takes them to school each day.
And he has met "the most beautiful woman in the world."
"My life is starting to turn around," he said.