Sonja

When Sonja first learned about the FSS program through her housing provider, Boston Housing Authority, it came at the perfect time. She was looking for ways to improve her financial stability, specifically with budgeting expenses and savings. She remembers that the FSS program stood out because “I had never seen a program like this before – one where they really just want to help you better your life and your situation. A lot of programs don’t walk alongside you through the process, but this program is different. They let you make choices about your goals and what to focus on, and then step back and give you time to achieve it. They’re really hands-on in how they support you, even through a pandemic!” 

Sonja joined the program in early 2021, excited to start working on her goals. She and her coach Ayolah identified areas that would help improve her financial stability. With support from her coach, Sonja took care of a school loan from sixteen years earlier, and paid off some personal debts, to help improve her credit score. Sonja says her coach helped her understand how credit scores impact so many aspects of your financial health and that, when managed properly, it can be a tool to propel yourself forward. She’s also incredibly proud to have just opened a bank account for her emergency savings to make sure she’s covered if unexpected expenses come up. 

About her coaching relationship, Sonja shares, “Ayolah has helped put things in a more positive perspective for me. She makes me feel like, even if I’ve never had something before, like savings, it doesn’t mean I can’t acquire it. She makes me feel so good when I reach certain goals, and it gives me that much more motivation to keep going. It’s really opened my eyes up to new horizons for myself!” As a survivor of domestic violence and a mother, Sonja’s thinking about ways she can start a program to offer help and guidance to other women like her who are navigating difficult situations.  

In addition to the work on her financial goals, Sonja finds the educational opportunities provided through the FSS program to be incredibly helpful. For example, Sonja recently attended a car-buying workshop provided by Compass to understand more about financing a car. She loves being able to share the resources she finds through the FSS program with friends and family. And, when she finds resources in the community, she shares them with her coach to help other clients too.  

As Sonja looks forward to the next few years in the FSS program, she has her sights set on becoming a homeowner. “There is so much opportunity for me to grow. I feel like now I’m in such a better position to accomplish my bigger goals, like buying a home. I know that if I stay dedicated and get a good job, I’ll get there. Before the FSS program, I would talk about buying a home, but I couldn’t picture it coming true. But now – I can see it all, like my kids playing ball out in the yard. I see such a more gratifying life for myself with all that I’ve been able to do already through the FSS program. It’s given me the confidence as a person, as a mother, to do what I need to do.”  

Right now, Sonja is working on finding a new job at a higher salary to capitalize on the great savings opportunity in the FSS program. We can’t wait to see how Sonja continues to grow over the next three years, and the whole Compass team will be there cheering her on as she strives to reach her long-term goal of homeownership!