“I never thought I’d be in a tent, but that’s better than being on the ground.”
Looking at Wanda Donald and her dog Diamond today, you wouldn’t guess they once spent years living outdoors. Sitting in her own furnished, cozy apartment, Wanda reflects on what she went through and the “YES” that helped her get to this moment.
After her father passed away, Wanda’s family sold his home, leaving her without a place to stay. She spent about a year moving from motel to motel until her savings ran out. Eventually, she and Diamond found themselves living outside.
It wasn’t until her niece visited that the reality of her situation truly set in.
Wanda had done her best to look put together. She visited a nearby gas station to wash up and change her clothes. However, the moment her niece saw her, she broke down crying.
In that moment, Wanda knew something had to change.
She began looking at new housing options, including staying with a friend. But finding stable permanent housing that would allow her to keep Diamond proved difficult, forcing her to turn down opportunities.
That’s when Sacramento County’s Homeless Engagement and Response Team, or HEART, entered the story.
In November 2024, HEART clinicians, alongside community partners, began regular outreach along Madison Avenue, where Wanda was staying. At first, Wanda kept her distance and declined services.
Despite hearing “NO” over and over, the team kept showing up week after week offering support.
“Would you like some services?” asked Kandace Seely, LCSW, a senior mental health counselor with HEART.
After months of asking, Wanda said “YES.”
That yes opened the door to mental health services and a coordinated effort to help her out of the situation she felt so stuck in. HEART worked alongside community partners to connect Wanda to intensive support and was eventually connected to a program that helped her qualify for housing, for herself and Diamond.
Today, Wanda has been living in her own apartment for two months, spending most of her time at home, cooking and resting, something she doesn’t take for granted.
“I don’t really go out,” she said with a smile. “I’m just enjoying my space.”
Now with her apartment, Wanda is keeping momentum alive and focusing on the future. She hopes to stabilize her income, travel with her niece and in time, help others who are experiencing homelessness.
“I want to help people that are in the position I used to be in,” she said.
For those who may be unsure about accepting help, she offers simple advice: Go through the program. Follow the program and really take HEART seriously.
“We are all so proud of Ms. Donald for her courageous act to trust a bunch of strangers and stick with us during her most difficult circumstances,” said Kandace.
To learn more about HEART, their services or how to give your own “YES,” visit the Sacramento County Department of Health Services website.