Finding Purpose Through Opportunities
Through years of connecting residents with resources to thrive in their communities, Sylvia Rineer made the decision to answer a long-standing question in her mind.
“What do I want to be when I grow up?”
After working at non-profit organizations, including Opportunity Home as a ConnectHomeSA digital ambassador, Rineer, a Housing Choice Voucher participant, found her purpose as a full-time community advocate. She strives to be a “voice” for those looking to thrive in their communities.
Rineer is finding her groove in her new purpose, recently starting as a medical eligibility specialist at Texas Health and Human Services. One of her main responsibilities entails interviewing senior individuals to determine their eligibility for Medicaid.
The single mother of two secured her new position six months after earning her Community Health Worker certificate through the YWCA San Antonio. Rineer credits Opportunity Home for providing her the opportunity to develop her client-facing skills in preparation for this new position. As a digital ambassador, she instructed digital literacy classes, teaching residents the fundamentals of navigating technology.
“I am relieved I found the career I want to retire from,” Rineer said. “By having the opportunity to be a digital ambassador with Opportunity Home, I received first-hand experience in the field of social services.”
Opportunity Home may have given Rineer the most comprehensive experience to excel in her new role, but she has been developing the skills to serve individuals and families’ needs. Rineer worked as an outreach/intake coordinator at Family Service, where she linked families to supportive services for their most urgent needs. As an intern at Corazon Ministries, she served food to individuals facing homelessness and connected them to clothing and hygienic resources.
Giving individuals and families the tools they need to thrive in their communities is a superpower Rineer embraces with great responsibility.
“It’s awesome to be making a difference in people’s lives, I want to make sure that everything I do has meaning and that the sacrifice of time away from my family brings me something purposeful.”