I first heard about WANDA a year ago through my previous job at Next Door Solutions to Domestic Violence in San José. Now, I’m working as a social worker in emergency services at a local hospital.
As I was completing the WANDA program, WANDA’s Director of Programs Jennifer Advani sent along an email about an additional funding opportunity that I may qualify for. I responded that I was interested in learning more about Measure K rental assistance. In addition to completing the necessary paperwork, I also had to complete a financial workshop in order to qualify for the funding, but it wasn’t complicated. I was approved and received the financial support right at the perfect moment. It was definitely worth my time.
That same month, I ended up being short on my rent. My son is on the spectrum, and as a single parent, if he needs to be taken to a special appointment, if he’s sick, or just having a rough day, I’m the one to care for him. That month, I had already used up my accrued paid time off, so I was having to take unpaid days off. The Measure K funds came through exactly when I needed them.
The biggest thing that WANDA has taught me is to save methodically and not touch my savings. This thinking has influenced other savings accounts that I had prior to joining WANDA. I now have a savings account set up specifically for my son. I better understand the importance of contributing to my 401 (k) and how to utilize the matching funds from my employer, too.
There have been times when I’ve panicked and thought I may have to dip into my savings to cover rent, but I’ve managed to pull through without having to use any of my savings at all. This discipline that WANDA has given me has been the biggest thing I’ve learned so far.
With my son being on the spectrum, it’s uncertain what the future holds for him. I try to hold onto my faith and pray that he lives a “normal” life, but I’m not sure what that will look like. For now, I’ve opened a CalABLE account, which is a savings account specifically for those with special needs. I’m able to deposit into it every month, and the California government makes deposits to it as well. This provides some security for our future.
This past year, I completed all the required WANDA courses, plus a special financial literacy workshop required to receive the Measure K rent assistance. Now, I’m focused on maintaining my monthly deposit amount to meet the WANDA savings goal to qualify for the match. I was close to purchasing a home a few months ago, but it wasn’t the right time. Thanks to growth in my financial planning and my faith, I was able to avoid a potential financial misstep. The house could have stretched my finances too thin, and it needed a lot of work that I wasn’t ready to take on financially. I now have a better idea of where I want to be when it comes to the purchase price, quality of the home, location, and all the other important considerations when investing in a home. Plus, the matching funds will set me up for a better down payment when the time is right.
At the beginning of the program, I was a little nervous. With so much on my plate, I was worried about missing classes or missing deposits, but WANDA does such a great job at helping us and reminding us. I only missed one class because my son was sick, and I have never missed a deposit. Those friendly reminder emails from Jennifer really do help. They’re not judgmental or condescending either – they understand the reality of being a single mom and how much we have on our plates. Frankly, she doesn’t need to send those emails because it’s our responsibility to remember. But to get that support from her has been life-changing — to feel supported and cheered on to succeed — it’s something new for me. Don’t be afraid to try the program, because you’re going to succeed.
Throughout the program, I’ve also met many single moms who are in the same scenario as I am. I was happy and encouraged to engage with strong and motivated women who are trying to make a financial difference in their lives. I have also started to feel less alone, especially once I connected with a few other moms who have children with special needs, too. When you have a child with a disability, sometimes you feel like you’re the only two in the world. It’s encouraging to keep going when I can see so many other women just striving to do better.
Overall, I’m more proud of myself. Before this program, I was just going through life, going through the motions of it all — every day was just the same thing. WANDA makes you take a step back and look at things from a broader lens. I used to feel like I wasn’t doing enough and even like I may have been failing in certain areas of my life, but WANDA empowered me to feel proud of what I have accomplished despite my challenges. I’m working towards a goal and I’ve made it this far… I can keep going.