“Everyone deserves an opportunity to work on their financial wellness,” says Gina Sanchez, Director of Center for Financial Stability of La Casa de Esperanza. This belief is the foundation of La Casa De Esperanza’s people-centered approach in their financial education and housing counseling services; they try to focus on the individual, meeting them wherever they are in their financial or housing journey.

She described a client success story which is indicative of this approach: Elliot, a single father of four, was experiencing homelessness. He came to La Casa de Esperanza with a goal of owning his own home. Gina worked with Elliot for over five years, helping him learn how to build his savings, improve his credit, and get back on track. This long-term financial stability counseling eventually led to Elliot being able to purchase his own Habitat for Humanity home for him and his family. “I just love when I see stories like Elliott’s, where it doesn’t matter what circumstance you’re in—if you’re homeless, if you feel broken–you know we can work with you along the way,” she says. 

Gina Sanchez, La Casa de Esperanza; Elliot

La Casa de Esperanza, which means house of hope, has an entirely bilingual staff—all services are offered in both English and Spanish. With a focus on financial education, they bring programs in financial wellness and housing counseling to communities across Wisconsin.

La Casa de Esperanza recently joined our Housing Action Counseling Network member, becoming our first Intermediary affiliate in Wisconsin, while they were determining how to apply for HUD funding. They were also seeking guidance on HUD compliance and how to choose software to track their housing counselors’ work. Before joining the Housing Action Counseling Network, Gina explains, “We didn’t have HUD funding…We didn’t have an appropriate way to track all the hard work that our counselors are doing.” Now, they’ve recently received their first grant notice from HUD through Housing Action, and are taking steps to transition to a new housing counseling software as well. “We’re just excited to have [Housing Action’s] support,” says Gina. “We feel more confident in the work that we’re doing.”

In the next year, La Casa de Esperanza has plans to expand their programming by 20% or more, with a focus on reaching out to more underserved communities throughout the state. With newly awarded resources from the Wisconsin Housing Economic Development Authority (WHEDA) and the Heron Foundation, La Casa de Esperanza will bring housing education and counseling to many areas and communities, particularly households of color, including Hmong residents. In addition, they are planning to expand their financial wellness in the workplace program. 

WHEDA education in EauClaire, WI

WHEDA education in Wausau, WI

While growing, the organization aims to focus on local building capacity, so that their work can continue to create change over the years and stay rooted in the community. “My long-term vision with this is to help folks in those areas open or create their own support systems and services,” says Gina.

One thing Gina wants people to know about financial stability is that it looks different for everyone. “It’s letting folks understand that it’s their own journey. It’s their own goals and just to start wherever you are, and any progress you make towards financial stability is an improvement.” 

Clients of La Casa de Esperanza who will be moving into a new home