Vanessa has lived in the same Southeast San Antonio neighborhood for nearly two decades. “I’ve actually been here for about 18 years, and I just love it,” she said. “I really don’t see myself moving out of the area. I’ve just grown to love it so much.”
A devoted mother, Vanessa raises her children with pride. “I was blessed with four kids. I have three here at home who live with me. I have a 21-year-old, but he’s already grown and on his own. He attends college at Texas State,” she said. “Two of them are actually seniors, going to graduate this June. So yes, I’m a very proud mom. My 16-year-old is joining my 17-year-old; he’s graduating a year early.”
She admits balancing motherhood and health challenges isn’t easy. Among UpTogether members who are part of an active UpTogether Fund, 27% report being diagnosed with a disability. Vanessa is one of them. She’s challenged with gastroparesis—a chronic health condition that causes severe digestive issues and daily pain. Despite the daily physical strain, she remains devoted to her role as a caregiver.
“My kids need me. So I just push through pain and suffering,” she explained.
Vanessa lives on a fixed income from Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and she works hard to make ends meet. When it comes to her priorities, Vanessa says her kids come first, no matter what—often leaving little to nothing left to spend on herself. “It’s hard when you feel like you have nothing to look forward to,” she shared.
Through it all, she has to make difficult choices between paying bills, buying food, or covering her medical expenses.
“I would still be without food for my family for two weeks... so I would have to worry about money to come up with, for food to purchase,” she said. “It’s not easy, but my kids are my strength.”
Vanessa and 24 other individuals received direct cash investments through Rising UpTogether San Antonio, an 18-month initiative designed to encourage UpTogether members to learn and engage in systems change advocacy while also using direct cash to address their financial hardship. For her, the flexible, no-strings-attached, cash helped stabilize her household immediately.
“It was such an impact to me and the kids. It was such a relief. It helped greatly,” she said.
The extra funds helped her cover groceries, bills, gas and car insurance. That gave her more independence—she no longer had to depend on waiting hours for public or Medicaid transportation just to get to her doctor’s appointments because she had the means to drive herself. For a family on a tight budget, those small improvements make a big difference.
The freedom to choose how she spent the money unlocked her ability to fill in gaps that other more restrictive benefits programs wouldn’t allow.
“My eldest is Type 1 diabetic, and if he needed certain supplies that weren’t covered through insurance, it made a great impact,” Vanessa said.
But for this mom, the emotional relief was just as significant.
“Before, I would try to hide... I would just break down crying in emotion from stress. My kids wouldn’t want to ask for anything because they felt like maybe I didn’t have it. That hurt as a parent,” she explained before then describing how things improved after receiving her guaranteed income payments. “I think they saw I was more happy, not as stressed. I really think they noticed a difference.”
Today, Vanessa channels her lived experience into advocating for Guaranteed Income as a solution to ending poverty, especially for families in communities like hers. She recently attended a day of advocacy at the Texas State Capitol and shared with lawmakers how direct cash positively impacted her life and how the UpTogether approach to trusting and investing in families really works.
“I would say that guaranteed income really helps change a lot of families’ lives who struggle with everyday difficulties,” she said.
Through Rising UpTogether San Antonio, Vanessa says she’s found purpose and a new passion in advocating for change.
“I’m attending meetings, [City] Council events, community dinners, and local marches. It’s grown on my heart to do things in the community,” she said. “Being sick and going through pain so much, it makes me feel like I have something to look forward to—helping others. I just love it. I really do.”