Ermina Soler and her family are currently living on Section 8 housing in downtown Dubuque.

As a former resident in the projects of New York city, Ermina Soler thought raising her three children in Dubuque was a better move.

“I had no family, no social support didn’t know what the community was all about or what it had to offer,” says Soler

Now a 3 year Dubuque resident, Soler is a participate of the section 8 housing, a government assisted living program.  Like many other section 8 participates, Soler lives in downtown Dubuque an area some people believe is where all section 8 participates reside.

“I didn’t have transportation at the time, I needed to get to and from appointments on a regular basis I began school I needed to get to school I needed to get to the day care and I needed to walk to do all of this so living downtown is ideal and that’s why I believe that the majority of poverty stay concentrated in the downtown area,” says Soler

Soler is seeing other section 8 participates break through to mold of becoming self sufficient.

“There is always going to be a population that misuses that help and abuses of the system that’s unavoidable completely unavoidable But I have had the pleasure to meet many women and men just like myself that are looking for further opportunities in their life and that do have plans to get off of section 8,” says Soler.

But she is not the only one who is striving to set the record straight in Dubuque.

“There are many stereotypes for the section 8 families. However the truth is the majority of the section 8 families are very good citizens and do not cause problems,” says Janet Walker from Dubuque Housing.

While attending school, volunteering, and raising her children, Soler is focused on her 5 year plan which includes not living off of the government’s assistance.

“Just having that typical American dream like everyone else does people just want to survive people just wanna live happy. People in poverty want that too,” explains Soler

And while Walker and Soler continue to hear the clichéd comments, they are providing facts and strategies to try and turn around the negative persona attached to the section 8 program.

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Addressing Diversity: Part 2 and Addressing Diversity: Part 3