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.
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...
More Stories of Hope
Bank of America: Volunteer Group of the Year
We are excited to announce Bank of America as our Volunteer Group of the Year. This award category, introduced in 2023, celebrates those individuals and organizations whose extraordinary dedication and passion for service bring our mission to life and strengthen the...
JPMorgan Chase: Financial Partner of the Year
It is with great honor that we recognize JPMorgan Chase as our Financial Partner of the Year, acknowledging the firm’s deeply rooted commitment to the highly challenging work of affordable housing finance. Perhaps the most daunting aspect of building affordable...
Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles: Our Community Partner of the Year
We are proud to recognize the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles as our Community Partner of the Year, celebrating the faith-based organization’s unwavering commitment to providing affordable housing across a broad swath of California. Led by Bishop John Harvey Taylor,...
Texas Seniors Receive Food Support
For 25 years, Lexington Square residents relied on weekly donations from a local food bank to put food on the table and maintain a healthy diet. But when the donations suddenly stopped in early 2024, the 129 seniors at Houston-area National CORE communities, including...
Mission Village Resident Finds Comfort with “Hope” by Her Side
As expenses for treatment of her stage 4 lung cancer mounted, Mission Village resident Carmen Vasquez, 78, faced an impossible challenge; she lacked the money to pay for her food for the month, much less her critically needed medications. Carmen was spending close to...
Hope Steps up to Help Family Keep the Lights On
Just before moving into Metro View with his wife and two daughters, Meiser lost his job. Drawing on his savings, he scraped together enough for his first month’s rent and deposit, but it meant he was unable to keep up with an alarmingly high electricity bill. “I would...
Hope through Housing Helps Revive Student’s Dreams
When Melrose Villas resident Alondra, 18, received a used 2005 Honda Civic from her parents for her senior year of high school, it was her ticket to freedom. She planned to commute in fall from San Marcos to her dream school: University of California, San Diego. But...
Permanent Supportive Housing Program Expands to Meet Growing Needs
The program has grown tremendously since its inception in 2020 – with a strong presence in San Diego, Riverside and Los Angeles counties
Resident Becomes Hope Employee
Sandra spends her days helping residents locate resources, connecting those in need with emergency assistance and coordinating ways to meet their unique needs.
Senior Fit Coach Inspires Healthy Bodies and Youthful Minds
Coach Evan Russo’s greatest joy is “giving senior citizens their lives back” by teaching them to stretch, lift and train to boost their health
After-school Expansion Brings Opportunities to Texas Communities
Texas children are boosting their academics with homework assistance, building new friendships and developing healthier lifestyles – all thanks to $195,000 in donations
Emergency Aid Helps Vista de La Sierra Resident Keep Her Home
When fraudulent charges nearly drained Nancy’s bank account, what little money she had left had to go for food and living expenses.
Church Member Sponsors Back-to-School Shopping Spree
Laughter and chatter bubbled through the air at Champs Sports on July 13 as 44 children from National CORE’s Rancho Verde affordable housing community excitedly picked out shoes, shirts and backpacks loaded with school supplies. Nine-year-old Marlaysia discovered a...
Jordan June Luzzi, 2024 Scholarship Recipient
Jordan Luzzi holds himself to a high standard – especially as a way to acknowledge how much his family and teachers have given to ensure he succeeds.
Mariana Gonzalez, 2024 Scholarship Recipient
When Mariana Gonzalez was 9, her family moved from Colombia to the United States, seeking better opportunities.
Aime Bakundukize, 2024 Scholarship Recipient
When Aime Bakundukize was 8, his family fled war-torn Mozambique for asylum in the U.S.
Trinity Shaker, 2024 Scholarship Recipient
Corona Del Ray resident Trinity Shaker, 19, said she’s destined to become a pediatrician.
Tasha Sadler, 2024 Scholarship Recipient
Tasha Sadler always dreamed of becoming a pediatric nurse, but she was always too busy and the goal seemed unachievable.
Family of Four Finds a Community at Veterans Park
Charles, a Navy veteran who lives at Veterans Park in Pomona, is pursuing higher education with the help of a Building Bright Futures scholarship he received in June 2023.
Journeys of Hope: Olufemi and Sebastian’s Transformative Paths with National CORE and Hope through Housing
Meet Olufemi and Sebastian, two remarkable young adults whose lives have been profoundly impacted by the compassionate mission of National CORE and Hope through Housing
Women of Hope Member Gives Back to Community
Zeinab Fakih was unsure of what to expect when she first volunteered for a Women of Hope Read to Kids event, but it did not involve buying a television.
Good afternoon, Mr. Greg!
Four days a week, Gregory Quezada carries platters of food to the lively Sunset Heights community center in Rancho Cucamonga.
Story of Hope: Moving here ‘just made my life perfect’
Valerie Aguilar is an honor student, a member of her high school scholarship club, Bible club and marine biology club, and will attend the University of California-Santa Barbara next fall in her quest to become an environmental engineer.
Do Fitness! With Uzi
A group of residents has gathered, waiting in anticipation for their weekly fitness class. Uzi Tayou, a professional soccer player for the Empire Strykers, is setting up for the day’s activities.
Hope through Housing’s Senior-Centered Exercise Classes Promote Wellness and Social Connection
It’s Thursday morning. Music is blaring from a portable speaker in the Day Creek Seniors Villas community room. A booming voice can be heard, calling out exercise moves to a room full of older adults, ranging in age from 62 to 91 years old. The class, led by Coach...
How Hope through Housing is Transforming Young Lives through Youth Mentorship
Hope through Housing, in partnership with the City of Ontario, is piloting a new youth mentorship program at the new affordable housing community of Vista Verde, with remarkable success.
On the Road Again: Through Building Bright Futures Scholarship, Father Restarts His Trucking Career
Erik, a father living at Sunset Heights in Alta Loma, California, used his scholarship to pay part of the schooling to renew his Class A trucking license.
Hope through Housing Partners with ProduceGood to Tackle Food Waste and Food Insecurity
Hope through Housing has partnered with ProduceGood, a San Diego nonprofit that tackles food waste and food insecurity by gathering fruit and vegetables that would otherwise be wasted.
Pathways to a Forever Home
When Cynthia, a single mother of one with twins on the way, moved into the affordable housing community of Villaggio on Route 66, she knew that her new two-bedroom apartment would not be her family’s forever home.
A Story of Hope: 2019 CORE’s Got Talent Finalist Tonji
Tonji was one of three finalists to perform at the 2019 An Evening of Hope: Endless Possibilities and a fan favorite.
Unlocking Opportunities: Sebastian Turns Sacrifices into Success
As he prepares for his third year at Notre Dame University, Sebastian is reflecting on all the sacrifices his mom has made that have led to this pivotal point in his life.
Story of Hope: Finding Community in the Age of Online School
Although Maria is halfway through high school, like millions of other students across the country, she has spent very little time actually at her school, Corona High.
Building Bright Futures Scholarship: The Start of a New Chapter
For most of his life, Brian lived a nomadic lifestyle, as his family moved from place to place, in search of affordable housing. The lack of stability made it difficult for Brian to develop friendships. He rarely stayed at a school long enough to make friends.
Military Appreciation Month: Sam
I recently had the honor of meeting Sam, 88, a Korean War Veteran at the Gardens at Sierra in Fontana where he has been a resident for more than eight years.
Building Bright Futures: The Possibilities are Endless!
Joey, a sixth-grader from Villaggio on Route 66 in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., has big dreams for his future. Through Hope through Housing’s Building Bright Futures initiative, Joey attends the after-school program where he lives and receives encouragement, mentoring...
Finding Housing after 15 Years on the Streets
Richard Porras looks back on the most difficult point of his life and sees it as a blessing. “I found out that more people out there care than don’t care. Homelessness took the negativity away from me,” he says in a voice slowed by years of drug abuse and living on...