SHEO lends a helping hand to Socorroans to thrive

Socorroans Helping Each Other (SHEO) community outreach coordinator Stephen Sanchez tackles challenging situations holistically and believes in giving his patients a hand up, not just a handout.

“A lot of times, their money situation is the manifestation of their other problems, because that’s where it hits them,” Sanchez said.

SHEO has been supported financially by locals, Kay and Paul Krehbiel. The Krehbiel family that felt there was a gap in services, especially after many families were struggling with COVID. In partnership with Presbyterian Socorro General Hospital, their mission is to connect people to the resources they need to improve their lives.

They offer emergency help with electric and water bills and, in some situations, rent. SHEO has established a working relationship with Socorro Electric Co-op and the City to avoid utility shutoffs.

But the program is more than helping people pay an overdue bill, it’s about empowering community members to take control of their finances, rather than simply providing temporary solutions.

Sanchez takes the time to talk to his patients to better understand their perspectives. He tries to figure out what is going on below the surface, and he says sometimes those conversations get tough.

“So there are a lot of tricky situations. When you start getting into people’s personal lives, they’re very complex. It’s not a one-stop thing. And so I just try to look at the big picture and think okay, what would I do their shoes.” Sanchez said.

He often opens up about his story of being in debt to offer them hope for their future.

“I’ve made bad decisions, bad credit, debt, just the works. And I know what it took to get out of it and the commitment to paying off debt,” Sanchez said, “I know what it is like to be in this situation, but you can get out of it if you commit to it.”

After years of fixing his financial issues, he is proud to say he was able to buy his first home.

“That was a miracle for us because it took a long time to fix it. So I share my story, I’m open with them about it,” Sanchez said.

Sanchez said one of the most important skills

he helps people with is creating a budget. He said he has realized that many people have never created personal budgets before and he has seen first-hand how it has benefited his patients.

“The trickiest part is getting people to open up about their problems with money and their spending habits. And so I tried to defuse that right away, telling them, ‘Look, I’m here to serve you,’” Sanchez said.

But once people let him in he is able to identify spending issue that are hurting them financially. The benefit trickles down to their kids.

He often works with people on fixed incomes, which can be a struggle with rising costs. If people are having a hard time getting employed, he’ll help them write up a resume and coach them through making a good impression for an interview.

“I get all sorts of different people, and so I’ve learned to just work with them where they’re at. And, you know, not everyone’s the same. Some people need encouragement. Some people just need hope and help. And some need just the straight, raw truth,” Sanchez said.

He always recommends that people budget in a savings and to treat their savings account like a bill.

“I tell people things are going to happen, things are going to come up. That’s life. You have to plan for those things. And so that’s the whole goal here.” Sanchez said. “With the economy, nothing’s promised, and things could get worse for people.”

He said one of his patients came in needing help paying a bill because his new business was struggling. Sanchez found out that he didn’t have business cards, so he made some and told him to go door to door and pass them out. He walked him through practice runs of presenting himself to a potential customer.

“I just talked to him Monday, and he said, ‘I paid my own bill. I got work this weekend’. So it’s helping people to do it themselves,” Sanchez said.

Sanchez said there are just some things SHEO can’t help with, and when that comes up, he reaches out to other local programs and makes referrals.

“I saw about 40 families in the past two months. But I think only about 20 were actually helped financially. So the other 20 I would say, half of them figured it out. They made it work. They made it happen.” Sanchez said.

Sanchez believes in building long-term relationships with participants, providing ongoing support and resources to help them succeed. He hopes that he can empower his patients to the point where, when they are financially stable, they can continue to help their friends and family.

“It’s a community taking care of itself,” Sanchez said.

For more information on SHEO email Stephen Sanchez at: ssanchez82@phs.org