There’s something special about Veronica Ann Hutch, a 29-year old resident of two years at TNDC’s Cameo Apartments. Maybe it’s her soft-spoken nature or seemingly vulnerable quality. Whatever it is, her drive to grow as a person certainly prevails.

Becoming Self-Reliant
For Veronica, learning to be independent has been an exercise in conquering tragic circumstances. When she was little, her mother died from a drug overdose. She was later adopted and raised by a grandmother. But at age eighteen, she moved in with her father, a retired veteran, for more independence. It wasn’t until he died from a stroke that she truly had to be self-reliant. “When my dad passed, I had to find somewhere to go. I have a brother in Arizona but he has his own life,” says Veronica. “I do what I can on my own.”

Relying on her wits, she knows to take full advantage of the resources around her. She discovered TNDC through a co-worker from a former security job. When a waiting list opened, she did what her friend and many other people did. She arrived at the lottery site the day before, sat in line, and waited. “TNDC’s apartments are some of the most affordable,” she explains. “There were lots of people like me looking for places to live.” It was seven months on the waiting list before she got her current studio. In the meantime, she lived in a hotel and negotiated to pay her rent in installments.

Developing Job Skills
Finding TNDC is one step but she is also focused on developing her job skills. Having received a high school diploma and taken classes at City College of San Francisco, she wants to continue learning. “I joined the Sacramento Job Corp. several years ago and learned to do data-entry and retail sales,” she recalls. “I even took medical assistance classes just to see what that’s like.” Today, Veronica hopes to make use of free classes and computer hours here at a local agency in the Tenderloin.

In addition, she has just completed a ten week janitorial training program at Tool Works where, among other things, she learned to buff, wax, and strip floors. She is also awaiting confirmation of a new job. Anticipating the opportunities ahead, she says, “This job will be challenging because it’s different from what I’ve done in the past. But I’m willing to try my best.” And if her history is any indication, the experience will be the greatest motivator, giving her lessons that she’ll have for a lifetime.