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 to save.
Today, Lashon is saving to buy a home, Ninfa has enough funds to return to school and Evamarie has not only built financial stability, but confidence in herself.
Each of the women credit Hope through Housing’s Money Match Savings program with helping them gain a new understanding of their finances. Money Match provides a one-to-one savings match of up to $1,200 over six months for participants.
The program, which is enjoying its most successful year ever, has helped 45 residents generate $96,800 in 2025. In October, participants celebrated at a series of graduation events in Orange County, San Diego and the Inland Empire.
“It brought me back to reality about credit, budgeting and what financial stability really means. It wasn’t just the Money Match program; I found new hope in myself,” Evamarie said.
“After going through the program, I’m focused and excited about saving so I can leave something behind for my grandson,” Lashon said.
“By participating in the program, I learned how to check my credit without damaging it,” Ninfa said. “The money I saved is helping me go back to school, and because of what I’ve learned, once that’s paid for, I know how to build my emergency savings.”
The Money Match program – launched in 2021 as part of the Pathways to Economic Empowerment Program – tackles one of the nation’s most critical challenges: a lack of financial literacy.
Money is the top source of stress for 65% of U.S. adults, but those who feel confident managing their finances report 50% lower stress levels and greater emotional resilience, according to the American Psychological Association.
Lashon said she understood that stress.
“As an adult, we’re supposed to know this type of information, but no one showed me, and I didn’t know how to ask for help,” she said.
Roughly half of all U.S. adults say they lack understanding of finances, accord to the Pew Research Center. In homes with lower incomes, one in five adults with lower incomes say they don’t much or know nothing about personal finances.
“Our Money Match program combines a savings incentive program with hands-on learning in financial literacy,” Hope through Housing Executive Director Alyssa Cotter said. “As a result, graduates complete the program with a strong understanding of credit, how to save and with a nest egg for special plans or emergencies – and the confidence to know they can plan better for the future. It’s an incredibly empowering program.”
The results speak for themselves: This year’s program achieved a 93% completion rate, with 81% of participants reducing debt and 53% of graduates improving their credit scores.
Special guests joined the celebrations, including Hope through Housing Foundation board members and partners from Chase Bank, which helped fund the program. Jonathan Escobar, Chase Bank’s Community Manager, welcomed participants at the Inland Empire ceremony, sharing how aligned the organizations’ missions are.
“Our partnership with Hope through Housing is powerful because we’re both creating pathways to financial confidence,” Jonathan said. “Hearing participants say this has changed the way they view money – that’s exactly what this program is all about.”