Hope in Action

Thank You for Delivering Hope!

With your help, Hope through Housing will continue to invest in the academic success of children and youth, the financial stability of families, and the health and wellbeing of seniors. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we also will continue to provide emergency food and household necessities to seniors; rental assistance, financial counseling, and employment assistance to struggling families; and address challenges brought on by online learning for children and youth.

Helping Families Achieve Financial Stability

Nora, like so many of us, was more of a spender than a saver. For most of her life, she has lived paycheck to paycheck. As a resident of Monterey Village, a National CORE affordable housing community, Nora has access to one-on-one financial coaching and other programs offered through Hope through Housing’s Pathways to Economic Empowerment Initiative. When she learned about the opportunity to participate in Pathways’ Money Match Program, she decided that she wanted to start saving for emergency expenses. With the Money Match Program, Nora received .50 cents to the dollar for every dollar she saved. She had to commit to meeting with a financial coach once a month and save a minimum of $200 each month for a year. At the end of the year, participants received up to $2400 in matching funds.

“The transformation that takes place when participants in the Money Match Program realize that they can increase their savings and achieve their financial goals is amazing to watch,” said Economic Mobility Specialist Heidi Reyes. “When they start watching their savings grow, they start wanting more for themselves and their future, such as buying their own home or investing their money.”

Pathways to Economic Empowerment seeks to improve the financial and social well-being of our families through financial education, workforce development, and one-on-one financial coaching. The program is designed to foster economic mobility and to help families achieve stability and self-sufficiency.

2020 Corporate Partner Award: SoCalGas

Over the next couple of months, Hope through Housing will be highlighting our 2020 award recipients. The award presentation took place during our November 12 online broadcast celebrating our 10 Days of Delivering Hope Campaign. Each honoree was featured in a video that was released during the campaign.

This year’s Corporate Partner of the Year award was presented to SoCalGas, the nation’s largest natural gas distribution utility in the United States, delivering clean, safe, and reliable energy to 21.8 million consumers in more than 500 communities. With a commitment to improving the quality of life in the communities they serve, Hope through Housing, and the families and seniors we serve, have benefitted from the charitable giving side of SoCalGas. In 2019, volunteers from SoCalGas did a community center makeover at Sunset Heights in Rancho Cucamonga, repainting, and assembling new desks and chairs to brighten up the after-school program site. To help during the pandemic, as well as support local businesses, SoCalGas purchased and delivered meals to homebound seniors living in Dumosa Senior Village in Yucca Valley. SoCalGas, through grants, also has provided financial support to our Pathways to Economic Empowerment initiative.

Through SoCalGas’s ESA Program’s Multifamily Common Area Measure initiative, National CORE has improved energy efficiency at its affordable housing communities. In partnership with SoCalGas, National CORE has been able to increase energy efficiency and reduce operating costs, receiving more than $1.5 million in water heater upgrades. The upgrades include the installation of low flow showerheads, low-flow aerators, thermostatic shower valves, thermostatic tub spouts, and door weather-stripping. National CORE residents see the impact of these efforts in lower utility bills.

National CORE and Hope through Housing thank SoCalGas for their leadership and partnership. Please join us congratulating SoCalGas, this year’s Corporate Partner of the Year.

Give Hope This Holiday Season!

Hope through Housing is kicking off its annual Holiday Drive. This year, more than ever, we want to provide our families and seniors with a little extra. We will be collecting toys for children; gift cards and sports equipment for teens; and gift cards and home essentials, such as towels, blankets, and small appliances for seniors. A wish list has been created on Amazon.com. If you purchase your items from smile.amazon.com you can increase your impact! To sign up, please visit https://smile.amazon.com and designate Hope through Housing as your charity of choice.

We invite you to join us in bringing joy this holiday season to families and seniors living in National CORE affordable housing communities. Host a holiday drive at your office, with family and friends, or with a local community group – this giving season.

For more information or to schedule a drop-off time, please contact Julie Normand at jnormand@hthf.org.