An Example for Her Children
After struggling with credit and living paycheck to paycheck for years, Joanna has taken control of her life with a new, higher-paying career and plans for the future after participating in SDHC Achievement Academy programs.
“More than anything—I didn’t realize it at the time ‘til like more recently—but it’s the example that I’m giving my kids,” Joanna said. “And like hearing from them tell me, ‘Oh Mom, we’re so proud of you. You’ve come a long way.’ That is like the best feeling ever because I was doing it for myself, but I was mostly doing it for my kids.”
Joanna lives with her children, ages 19, 17, 15 and 4, at an apartment in San Ysidro. She began receiving Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher rental assistance from SDHC four years ago.
At the voucher orientation she attended, she was intrigued about the opportunities the SDHC Achievement Academy offered to become more financially self-reliant.
“What stood out was that they could help me repair my credit because my credit was not good at all,” she said. “And to be honest, I didn’t call right away. It took me a few months to say, ‘You know what? Like, I’m ready. Enough time has passed. I need to make these changes.’”
An SDHC Workforce Readiness Specialist helped Joanna work on climbing out of default on her past student loans.
Joanna started attending SDHC Achievement Academy workshops and job recruitment events, beginning with Power of One, a yearlong program for single parents of children ages 16 and younger and who receive federal rental assistance. She integrates tips into her daily life from workshops on managing personal finances, building savings, and checking credit reports, among others.
Through the SDHC Achievement Academy, Joanna also obtained a phlebotomy license and a Certified Nursing Assistant certificate. That allowed her to leave a restaurant job for a role at a local hospital, where she nearly doubled her previous salary.
Now, her eldest daughter is pursuing a career in the healthcare field at the same hospital, and her two other teenagers are considering the same.
“My kids see the big difference from a few years ago,” she said. “They see like everything I’ve had to overcome, all the hard work that I’ve put in working, going to school, still being there for them, like showing up to their games because they’re very active with their schools … I feel it’s affected them in a positive way.”
With all she’s done, her next steps may be her biggest yet. She wants to be a nurse and a first-time homebuyer and already has begun the process of fulfilling those goals in the coming years.
