My name is Lena, a 41-year-old single mom of three. In 2022, after leaving an 18-year relationship, I faced a traumatic separation and divorce with no financial independence, having been a stay-at-home mom for 10 years.

In November 2023, I moved from Southern Humboldt to Sonoma County for better opportunities and resources for my kids. At first, we rented a small room in a shared house, but it quickly became an emotionally toxic environment for my children and I.

Then, in December 2024, my children and their father were in a horrific car accident during a rainstorm on Highway 101. My daughter nearly drowned when the vehicle slid into the river, but was resuscitated by a volunteer firefighter and fully recovered. My sons escaped with only minor injuries, but it was a deeply traumatic experience for all of us. It was truly a miracle that they all survived.

Just a few weeks later, I heard about Woodmark Apartments and applied immediately. I was approved days later. We moved in on January 1st and it felt like a true fresh start—the next chapter in my life as a single mom. I felt blessed to finally have a safe, affordable apartment with enough space for me and my children, in a great location.

On September 2, 2025, I received a call from Misty at Woodmark Apartments. She left a message asking to talk, and when I called her back, she told me the complex was originally built for farmworkers. When they couldn’t fill the units, they opened eligibility to other low-income families. However, she said they’ve been unable to get the USDA waiver required for us to stay, and I would need to move out by October 31. She added that I’d receive a $10,000 check as an “incentive” if I left by then, or $5,000 if I left by November 31. I was shocked, speechless, and unprepared to ask any questions, especially since I was at work at the time. She offered no alternative housing or relocation support beyond those checks.

What’s even more outrageous is that no one told us about this USDA waiver when we applied or moved in. We all knew the apartments were originally intended for farmworkers, but not once were we told that our ability to stay here depended on a waiver that hadn’t even been approved. Had I known that, I would never have risked moving in—especially since I’ve already had to move three times since November 2023.

To think that this could now be taken away through no fault of our own—while no other low-income housing is available—feels unbearably cruel. I don’t know where we would go. If we’re forced out, I can’t afford another rental in Sonoma County and would have no choice but to leave my job and move back north—something that isn’t realistic, especially since my ex just relocated here as well. Losing this apartment would devastate my family.