KMXT 100.1 FM Public Radio in Kodiak, Alaska
The Alaska Housing Finance Corporation will say goodbye to long-time employee Sandra Amox this month. She is retiring after more than 22 years working for the corporation at the Pacific Terrace affordable housing office in Kodiak. She will retire as the supervisor for the entire office, but said she first encountered Pacific Terrace as a low-income tenant.
"I lived here with my three children as a single parent and then I was taking classes at the college and doing various part time jobs, up to three different part time jobs," Amox said. "And then I found out that the office job here was becoming available…."
— (Retired Housing 1 : 23 "I lived here with my three children as a single parent and then I was taking classes at the college and doing various part time jobs, up to three different part time jobs. And then I found out that the office job here was becoming available and when I found out about it I had one day to get my resume to the job service.")
Amox got her resume to the office, and in the end got the job. Her work at Pacific Terrace has helped make affordable housing a reality for scores of Kodiak families over the years. She said health reasons have pushed her into retirement, but added that it was a good time to say goodbye. After more than two decades with the corporation, Amox said she will definitely miss it.
— (Retired Housing 2 : 23 "I am. I won’t miss the work load as I’ve been telling everybody but I will miss our clients and the people, the interaction with different people and the section 8 clients that come into apply. You know being able to help them and advise them on different things that they may want to check out that they may qualify for that may help them in their daily lives, so that part I will be missing.")
It’s fitting that Amox will miss the clients, because according to Cathy Stone, working with clients is what she did best. Stone is the statewide director of the public housing division for Alaska Housing Finance Corporation.
— (Retired Housing 3 : 27 "I never directly supervised her but have always been very impressed by her professionalism, as well as the level of care she takes with all our residents as well as voucher people. There was always a real sense that she cared about the people she was helping and I think that came from her experience having been in their shoes when she first came to Kodiak and had three young children and was making a go of it on her own. So she really understood how people feel to be in need of affordable housing.")
Elaine Hollier is the South Central regional manager for public housing and directly supervised Amox in majority of the work she did. She said Amox will be missed not just by the Kodiak community, but by the entire corporation.
— (Retired Housing 3 : 36 "Sandy is one of the most dedicated employees anyone could ask for. She cares not only for the property she manages but the people that apply for the services that we provide in rental assistance. She’s a pillow throughout the community. She volunteers for many, many things including she’s on the homeless community, she serves at the shelters. All on her own time. And she’s done this for many, many years and I think even when she retires from Alaska housing she’s going to continue on that path of volunteering.")
Amox said she absolutely will continue her volunteering, specifically with the Brother Francis Shelter and Special Olympics. She isn’t the only one in her household that will be giving back to the community. Amox said she has high hopes that her English golden retriever, Yoshi, can volunteer as a petting animal in the long term care area at the hospital.
A celebration of Amox and her work with the corporation takes place today (Friday). Her last day of work will be at the end of the month. Robinette Sagalkin (suh-gel-kin) will take her place. ###
