Stories of Hope
Impacting Real People. Everyday.
Hope through Housing’s work is all about people and we know we’ve been successful when we witness life changing in individual lives. Following are just a few of our most recent stories of resident success and program highlights.
Hope through Housing Launches Free Training in Hospitality Services
CORE Academy Celebrates First Hospitality Program CORE Academy, Hope through Housing's free job-training program, has celebrated the graduation of 12 students from its first-ever hospitality cohort. The hospitality track joins CORE Academy programs in property...
More Stories of Hope
BBF Scholar Pursues Nursing Dream After Fleeing Afghanistan
Aulia was lying on the ground outside Kabul's airport as gunfire erupted around her. It was August 2021, days after the Taliban seized control of Afghanistan. Thousands of people crowded the airport, hoping to escape the country. Among them was Aulia, then 13, and her...
2X Scholarship Winner Edges Closer to Medical Dreams
In the aftermath of a scooter collision, Trinity lay in the street, terrified that her broken thumb might crush her dreams of becoming a doctor. The injury required surgery, screws in her hand and months of physical therapy. But what Trinity, 21, remembers most is the...
Building Bright Futures Scholarship Helps Marcia Pursue Her Ph.D.
When Marcia Gonzalez was a child, one of her biggest inspirations was her younger brother, who struggled with speech challenges. Watching the care and support he received through speech therapy, special education and school psychologists showed her how deeply the...
Building Bright Futures Scholar Looks to Help Immigrants with Law Degree
When Fatima Hernandez-Reyes was in high school, she used to visit the Mexican Consulate in San Diego with her parents and see an endless parade of people begging for assistance after being exploited by their bosses at work. The now 19-year-old first-generation Mexican...
Building Bright Futures for the Next Generation
Growing up in low-income communities across Southern California, Leilani noticed something many people overlook. Some neighborhoods had parks and green spaces where children could safely play. Others did not. That contrast shaped the future she wants to create. ...
Eric Dickerson Learning Center Expands Youth Opportunities
Eric Dickerson Golf Tournament Supports Learning Center Hope through Housing’s Eric Dickerson Learning Center is a first-of-its-kind enrichment program for children and teens. As a result of strong community support, the program is expanding opportunities, building...
Financial Literacy Program Helps Resident Build Savings
When her car’s transmission failed, Ninfa faced a $2,400 repair she could not afford. That moment pushed her to take control of her finances and enroll in the Money Match financial literacy program. Before joining the program, saving consistently felt out of reach....
STEM Lab Fuels Curiosity and Connection
From slime-covered hands to bright tie-dyed creations, the children at San Antonio Vista buzzed with energy as they explored hands-on stations at the Montclair STEM Labs Science Fair.
Spring Harvest Delivers Fresh Food Across San Diego
Hope through Housing Foundation’s Spring Harvest distributed fresh produce to thousands of low-income families and seniors across San Diego County, with 500+ volunteers filling bags of oranges, lemons, potatoes, and onions for residents in affordable housing communities throughout the region.
Eric Dickerson’s Vison for Empowering the Next Generation
On a recent episode of our Finding Your Inspiration podcast, Pro Football Hall of Famer Eric Dickerson reflected on how his upbringing shaped his commitment to supporting young people. In the conversation, he speaks about the importance of helping children recognize...
Never Alone: Hope in Action
In 2025, Hope through Housing remained focused on a simple promise – no one should have to face hardship alone. The year was defined by meaningful impact and measurable progress across Southern California and Texas, strengthening communities, stabilizing families and...
Spark of Love Spreads Holiday Cheer to 400 Children
Four hundred children were dazzled into a frenzy when they walked into their very own winter wonderland – complete with a soap bubble “snow field,” holiday tunes, delicious tacos, toy giveaways and a visit from Santa Claus during the annual Spark of Love toy drive. ...
Pantry Program Provides Seniors with Healthy Food
When Ramona moved into National CORE’s Plaza at Sierra senior community four years ago, it felt like an answer to her prayers. She had been strained by rent, isolated and overwhelmed by the upkeep demands of her mobile home. At Plaza at Sierra, she found affordable...
Emergency Aid Helps Senior Hold onto Her Home
Like many retirees, Felesa lives on a limited Social Security income, leaving her vulnerable to unexpected expenses. Recently, ongoing medical expenses have sapped her ability to pay her rent – even at her affordable housing community. “This is the first time this has...
Making the Holidays Brighter for 200 Local Children
Lucas, a 10-year-old from an Ontario affordable housing community, was all smiles at the 18th annual Colonies Holiday Miracles on Dec. 13, when he shopped for toys, enjoyed holiday treats, made crafts and visited with Santa. Lucas was one of 200 children selected...
Turning Holiday Hardships into Hope
For many families in our community, the holidays are shaped by difficult choices. Rising costs and economic uncertainty mean parents often must decide between buying food and buying gifts, leaving too many children without meals or presents during a season meant for...
Building Community, One Holiday Meal at a Time
Nearly 150 people gathered for a warm and lively fall celebration, filling the room with smells of roasted turkey, buttery yams and mashed potatoes piled high. Residents savored ice cream, pie and laughter. More than 90 National CORE residents from Day Creek Senior...
Turkey Trotters Benefit Hope through Housing Teens
More than 100 community members took to the Pacific Electric Trail in Rancho Cucamonga early Thanksgiving morning, joining the seventh annual Studio 30 Turkey Trot Fun Run to support teens served by Hope through Housing. The event generated over $5,200 in donations,...
When Everything Piled Up, Hope Stepped In
This dad was one crisis away from losing his home Jarvis became a father at 15, long before most of us know who we want to be. From that moment on, his life revolved around his son, Christian. He worked, finished high school, enrolled in college and held tight to one...
A Family Forced to Choose Between Food and Shelter
Some families fight to hold on – long before anyone sees the crisis. Cassandra and Joaquin were doing all they could to keep their two children fed and housed. Yet each month, they had to make an impossible choice: buy food or keep a roof over their heads. When the...
CORE Academy Celebrates Largest Graduating Class Yet
Fourteen graduates proudly received their Property Management certificates this October, marking CORE Academy’s largest workforce development class to date. The graduation celebrated weeks of dedication and growth, with participants gaining new skills, confidence and...
Spreading Hope, One Thank-You at a Time
Following this year’s Evening of Hope Gala, more than 35 volunteers from U.S. Bank came together to create over 300 heartfelt thank-you cards for our donors and partners — a gesture of gratitude for the generosity and support that make our mission at Hope through...
Finding Confidence Through Savings
Lashon, a grandmother from Arbor Villas in Orange, once saw credit as a complete mystery. Ninfa, who lives at Shadow Hill in Santee, could never figure out where her money was going. And Evamarie, a resident of Mountainside in Rancho Cucamonga, couldn’t figure out how...
2025 Olen Jones I Am Hope Winner – Marisela Gerez
The Olen Jones I Am Hope Award honors those rare individuals who embody the very heart of National CORE and Hope through Housing. It recognizes employees whose passion, dedication and compassion transform lives every day – those who carry our mission not just in their...
Daniel R. Fauske Founders Award – Frank Williams
The Daniel R. Fauske Founders Award, National CORE’s most prestigious honor, is named for Daniel R. Fauske, a tireless advocate whose leadership at the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation set a national standard for affordable housing. This award recognizes individuals...
UPS Volunteers Spark Imagination
With the help of three dedicated UPS volunteers, Jake, Carmen and Imateo, the children transformed into creators of their own fantastical worlds.
From Tradition to Imagination: Kids Craft Alebrijes for Hispanic Heritage Month
In Hope through Housing’s free after-school program, learning doesn’t stop when homework is done. In September, as part of Hispanic Heritage Month, kids explored a colorful tradition by creating shadow boxes featuring alebrijes – fantastical creatures from Mexican folk art.
2025 Housing Advocate of the Year – Marina Wiant
Our Housing Advocate of the Year award is a rare honor, reserved for those whose leadership has profoundly advanced the cause of affordable housing. It recognizes visionaries whose work not only shapes policy, but also transforms lives – ensuring that families,...
CSUSB Students Build Community Through Compassion
Across America, seniors often go without essential medical care, hindered by isolation, lack of transportation and the challenges of finding a doctor or trying to schedule appointments. For six years, Hope through Housing has addressed this critical need head-on,...
From Student to Mentor: Joseph Gives Back
Last year, Joseph’s family of five moved from our Villaggio on Route 66 community to their own home in Rancho Cucamonga – an incredible achievement that brought the 14-year-old an entirely new life experience – complete with a backyard and even a pool. But despite...
The Rauch Family Foundation – 2025 Community Partner of the Year
The Hope through Housing Foundation and National CORE are proud to celebrate the Rauch Family Foundation as our 2025 Community Partner of the Year in recognition of the organization’s generosity, vision and action on behalf of residents of the Inland Empire. Founded...
Red Stone Equity Partners – 2025 Financial Partner of the Year
It is with great pleasure that we announce Red Stone Equity Partners as our Financial Partner of the Year, recognizing the firm’s pivotal role in National CORE’s national expansion program. For more than five years, the Red Stone team has helped National CORE navigate...
Building Financial Futures
Too many people have experienced the quiet panic between choosing between groceries and the electric bill, the weight of living one emergency away from crisis. At Hope through Housing, we believe no one should have to live with this kind of fear. That’s why our...
Big Dreams, Bright Futures
At just 12 years old, Brandon already has his sights set on San Diego State. Yannick, 11, wants to follow in his favorite teacher’s footsteps and attend UCLA. And 7-year-old Lani dreams of going to Cal State San Bernardino. These future scholars were among the...
Hands on Training, Real World Impact
At our Rancho Verde affordable housing community, eight determined participants took a major step toward transforming their futures, earning certificates of completion from the CORE Academy maintenance cohort. For Valeria, a National CORE resident and recent graduate,...
Eric Dickerson Learning Center: Changing the Game
Eric Dickerson recently spent an afternoon with the children at our first-of-its-kind Eric Dickerson Learning Center in Fort Worth, highlighting the incredible impact that Hope through Housing and the ED29 Foundation are making for families at National CORE’s The...