At Operation HOPE, we answered that call.

Project Restore HOPE: Economic Triage in a Time of Crisis

Just weeks after the storm, Operation HOPE launched Project Restore HOPE, an initiative focused on emergency economic disaster response. Our goal was not only to meet immediate needs but to deliver financial triage and empowerment to survivors who had lost everything.

Working alongside H&R Block, First American Corporation, E*TRADE Financial, and the Clinton Foundation, we mobilized resources, volunteers, and partners to meet the scale of the disaster. Through our efforts, we:

• Delivered more than $12 million in tax refunds to survivors.

• Returned over $8 million in Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) benefits in just four months.

• Provided over $400,000 in direct grants to underinsured or uninsured victims.

• Assisted more than 16,000 families in the first year alone.

A Decade of Service: HOPE Coalition America

By the 10th anniversary in 2015, HOPE Coalition America (HCA)—Operation HOPE’s disaster preparedness and recovery division—had served more than 250,000 survivors of Hurricane Katrina.

Thanks to the leadership of former HOPE staffer Fred D. Smith, Lance Triggs, Jena Roscoe, and numerous others at HOPE, HCA provided emergency financial counseling, disaster case management, and access to resources on a scale that rivaled or even exceeded that of federal agencies.

As Chairman John Hope Bryant reflected at the time:

“One person, with a lot of help from his friends, can indeed change the world. Be that one person.”

Partnerships That Made a Difference

Our Katrina response would not have been possible without the leadership and generosity of our partners:

• President Bill Clinton and the Clinton Foundation, including the Bush-Clinton Katrina Fund.
• H&R Block, led by CEO Mark Ernst, which donated more than $500,000 in tax prep services.
• First American Corporation, which made possible our call center in Poway, CA.
• E*TRADE Financial, which provided $500,000 in grant commitments for survivors.
• DHS/FEMA and the American Red Cross, who stood beside us on the ground.

Together, we demonstrated what Chairman Bryant has long called the Silver Rights Movement—economic empowerment as the civil rights issue of our time.

Twenty Years Later: A Legacy of HOPE

Today, on the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, we pay tribute to the resilience of survivors and the compassion of those who stood in their support.

We also recommit ourselves to the work ahead. Disasters—natural, financial, and personal—are still with us. But so is HOPE.

As we look back on two decades of service, we are reminded: one person can make a difference. Be that one person. Consider partnering with Operation HOPE today.

The post 20 Years After Hurricane Katrina: Operation HOPE’s Legacy of Response and Resilience appeared first on Operation HOPE.

Leanne B. was ready to be a homeowner. Down-payment in hand, she approached the mortgage officer at her local Cadence Bank in Winchester, Tennessee, ready to secure a mortgage.

“The mortgage officer pulled my credit and she immediately said, ‘I got to help you out,’” Leanne recounted. Leanne was initially taken aback because she thought that getting a loan would be straightforward. Today, she looks back at that conversation — and the introduction to Operation HOPE — and realizes that it was a life-changing moment for her.

Leanne’s new Financial Wellbeing Coach, Lester Watt, encouraged her to participate in the organization’s Credit and Money Management and Homeownership programs, where he worked with her to put this newfound knowledge into practice. Together, they completed a worksheet that detailed her income and expenses in order to create a budget. At the same time, they sought to eliminate her debt in a way that felt manageable. For Leanne, that was paying off the credit cards with the lowest balance first, and then working her way up to tackling debt on the higher balance cards.

“Each time I got new information from Lester, he’d tell me, ‘So the next time we meet up, you need to have XYZ done,’ and that’s what I did. Every time we met, everything he asked me to do, I did it,” she said. Lo and behold, Leanne saw her credit score rise by 121 points over 13 months. “When I say tremendous …it was tremendous,” she said.

Actions Speak Louder Than Words
At a time when purchasing a home is a stretch for most families, Leanne had confidence that she was on the right track to do so after Lester shared how he was able to personally achieve his financial goals.

“There’s a commercial and the slogan is ‘We actually live here.’ And that’s pretty much Operation HOPE. We’re actually living this way. Lester was transparent when he said, ‘On Sunday it’s Mother’s Day so I’ll take my mom out, but Monday through Thursday, I’m taking my lunch from home.’”

While making home-cooked meals was discussed as a money-saving tool, it spurred conversations with Lester about what this one act could mean for living a life of meaning.

“Slowing down and creating an atmosphere that makes you value home-cooked meals—it plays so much a part in daily living. It changed my life and my children’s too,” said Leanne.

Soon, she was looking at all aspects of her finances and deciding whether her purchases brought her joy or whether she was just buying things out of habit. “Is this something that I need now or this is something that I can do without?” was a question she found herself asking.

This wise approach to spending and managing debt gave Leanne a deep sense of contentment.
“When your credit is good, you live better. You’re not as stressed and it relieves all these things to where you have a stability feeling,” she said.

While her income hasn’t changed, her mindset has, which has given her life purpose.
“When you are financially stable, you have a greater appreciation for what you have. Look, I have a roof over my head, the lights are on, most of my needs are met so I like to see who I can take out to dinner. I may see someone who needs gas money or something and I’m in a position where I can do it,” she said.

In the summer of 2024, about 14 months since her first meeting with Lester, Leanne joyfully achieved her goal of homeownership. True to form, Lester continues to coach Leanne even though she has graduated from the Operation HOPE programs.
“After closing on my new home, I did a review with Lester and he told me not to go and buy furniture for every room straight away,” she laughed.

The post Coach “Walks the Talk” on Finances to Inspire This Homeowner appeared first on Operation HOPE.

Operation HOPE is often the first place people experiencing a financial emergency will turn to for help. As a result, it’s not uncommon for Operation HOPE coaches to encounter individuals who have suddenly found themselves in a dire and desperate position they never imagined they’d be in. That was the case for Tampa-based Operation HOPE financial coach Esther Fife when she first started working with Nicole.

At the time, Nicole had recently separated from her fiancé, who had been primarily responsible for managing the family’s finances. The split revealed that those finances were not nearly as healthy as Nicole had been led to believe. In fact, after the separation, Nicole discovered that she only had $200 to her name and her credit score had sunk to a dismal 520.

“I’d made a mistake by taking a hands-off approach and leaving it to my fiancé to manage our money,” said Nicole. “Despite a college education and a previous job in the financial industry, my financial knowledge was lacking. For example, I was never taught that credit scores could make or break your financial goals.”

Nicole’s immediate need was to qualify for a mortgage so that she and her two small children would have a place to call home. Operation HOPE’s first-time homeownership and credit counseling programs gave Nicole the information she needed to take steps toward her goal, and she credits Esther, the convener of the programs, with bringing it “home” for her.

“Going through a separation and realizing my finances were in dire straits meant that my feelings were very raw when I first met Esther,” said Nicole. “I was struck by her compassion and her ability to set my mind at ease and reassure me that I could get through this.”

Esther took a systematic approach to helping Nicole repair her credit. Line by line, they looked through Nicole’s credit reports for inaccuracies and found one in a student loan that was itemized twice. Esther also urged Nicole to apply for a secured credit card that would help build her credit history, and to pay down her debts by their due date. Since Nicole started working with Esther in 2017, she now can boast a credit score that has been as high as 810.

“Now, having gone through this experience, I’m still shocked that the Operation HOPE programs and Esther’s guidance were at no cost to me,” said Nicole. “It was truly a lifeline at an incredibly difficult time and I hope other people know that Operation HOPE can be there for them also.”

“Starting off as a coach with HOPE in 2015, my experience working with Nicole and other clients in Tampa gave me the great opportunity to uplift and improve the quality of their lives. I am blessed to play just a small part in the success they have experienced due to the programs offered at HOPE,” said Esther, who now serves as a project leader for the organization.

As for Nicole’s ultimate financial goal, she’s now the proud owner of not just one, but two houses, and intends to keep adding to her real estate portfolio. She’s also a business owner, and contracts with moms, who, like her, are busy juggling family and professional priorities. Nicole values the idea that she’s playing a part in helping them build their financial future.

The post Operation HOPE Brings the Importance of Credit “Home” For This Client appeared first on Operation HOPE.

Operation HOPE coaches are often seen as superheroes. Time and time again, they go above and beyond by looking for creative ways to help our clients meet their financial goals. Case in point: Columbus, GA-based Operation HOPE financial coach, Mike Lainez.

When former high school teacher, Felecia E., was first referred to Mike through a friend she was in a desperate situation. The long-term subsidized housing renter needed a new place to live but she couldn’t just lease any eligible apartment—Felecia needed a space that could accommodate her motorized wheelchair.

“I called and called apartment buildings and nobody was accepting Section 8 housing vouchers post-pandemic,” she said.

Enter Mike, who encouraged Felecia to dream big and consider homeownership, which was something that she didn’t think was in the cards for her. He discovered that NeighborWorks Columbus, an affordable housing nonprofit, was breaking ground on new homes in the community and encouraged Felecia to submit an application.

Together, they set about improving Felecia’s credit score—she’d need a score in the mid-700s to qualify for a mortgage loan on a NeighborWorks home, and hers was stuck in the 500s.

First up, they analyzed Felecia’s credit reports from all three credit reporting agencies: Equifax, TransUnion and Experian. They discovered several medical bill collections that were not hers due to identity theft. They formally disputed the charges with the agencies, which resulted in their removal.

Next up, Mike encouraged Felecia to apply for a credit card so she could build up her credit history by paying the card in full and on time. In a little over a year, Felecia had bolstered her score by 150 points and was thrilled when she was approved for a mortgage loan on a custom-built home in Fall 2022!

The home closing in May 2023 was a joyous event. “I’ve never had a custom-made suit, and now I have a custom-built home!” exclaimed Felecia.

Of course, her “little brother” Mike attended the closing. “Without Mike and Operation HOPE this would not have happened. We’re family,” says Felecia about her Operation HOPE coach. [Felecia was featured in this story on the local CBS News channel in Columbus about her experience].

“Despite her physical limitations and past struggles with substance abuse, you’ll never meet anybody who lights up a room like Felecia. She has so much positive energy that it’s contagious. It’s a distinct privilege in my role at Operation HOPE to help long-term renters like Felecia become homeowners,” said Mike.

Comfortably settled in her new three-bedroom, two-bath custom-built home, Felecia is able to work from home and spread her own style of “HOPE.” She works for the Georgia Crisis Line, where she helps others dealing with suicide, gambling addiction and substance abuse, among other challenges.

With a strong financial foundation, she’s now looking to purchase an accessible van – and is working with Mike to make sure the payments will fit in her budget.

“The future is so bright, I need sunglasses,” laughed Felecia.

The post “We are Family” – HOPE Coaches Create Unbreakable Bonds appeared first on Operation HOPE.

Working at a bank and handling mortgage loan applications daily, Operation HOPE client Briana L. was no stranger to the homebuying process. She had guided countless clients through the complex maze of paperwork, credit checks, and underwriting. Yet, when it came time for her to buy her own first home, she quickly realized that being on the other side of the desk was an entirely different experience.

Briana shared her sentiments with longtime friend, Lauren. “I thought that I couldn’t do this—especially with how the economy was going,” said Briana.

Lauren, in turn, introduced her to her mom, Sandy Clark, a Financial Wellbeing Coach for Operation HOPE and a financial industry veteran with more than 25 years of experience.

From the beginning, Sandy gave Briana the motivation to keep moving forward. In addition to being a knowledgeable coach, she was Briana’s biggest cheerleader.

“Sandy made the process so much easier for me—she was patient and was there for any type of questions or support I needed. She really just helped me the whole way,” said Briana.

As a homeowner herself, Sandy could speak from experience about the complexities of the mortgage loan process and reassured Briana that there were plenty of options to assist in buying a house. For example, as a first-time home buyer, Briana had several different government loan programs to choose from.

One of the biggest hurdles Briana faced was planning for the down payment. She didn’t want to rely on family or outside help, so Sandy helped her explore other options, including weighing the pros and cons of tapping into her 401(k) for the payment.

“I’d rather pay myself back than borrow from someone else,” Briana concluded.

Transitioning from renting to owning has brought Briana a lot of joy. For example, she is thrilled that her large dog now has a backyard to roam around in. But it also brought new responsibilities—she learned the importance of budgeting for home-related expenses like real estate taxes, property insurance, and unexpected repairs such as damage sustained to her fence after a hurricane.

Briana emphasizes how Operation HOPE’s support didn’t end at closing.

“It doesn’t stop here. If I’m ever there needing any questions answered, I know I can always get to Sandy and she’ll help me,” she said.

Their ongoing relationship has made Sandy not only a coach but a trusted advisor—a role many Operation HOPE coaches proudly embrace. Sandy’s motto is “success happens when opportunity and preparedness meet.”

Today, Briana is excited about what’s next. She’s thinking about home upgrades and taking inspiration from new builds in her area. Her community continues to grow, with new amenities being added regularly.

“It’s a really good location—and it’s close to my family too,” she said.

The post From Expert to Client: This Banker Shows How Anyone can Benefit from a Coach appeared first on Operation HOPE.

Access to homeownership falls short

In our most recent national survey of nearly 2,000 HOPE clients, 85% said they are concerned about the cost of housing in their community, and over a third said they considered purchasing a home within the last year but found it to be unaffordable (37%). “Housing and the cost of living have increased so much, that there are times we don’t have enough food or gas to last until the next paycheck—we can’t even afford a home right now,” said a new client who is working on their budget to turn their situation around.

According to the U.S. Census, only 65% of Americans own their home. Furthermore, over half (53%) of those who are not currently homeowners say that owning a home will never be financially affordable (Northwestern Mutual Planning & Progress Study 2025).

Operation HOPE equips people with financial tools and education to help individuals overcome barriers to homeownership, such as poor credit, lack of down payment, debt, and challenges with money management.

Creating the path to reach that dream

To break down barriers, Operation HOPE’s Homeownership Program provides individualized coaching, workshops, tools, and resources to meet people where they are—at no cost to participants. For example, Coach Yajaira in Atlanta worked with a client who went from being in default on her student loans to becoming a homeowner early this year.  Together, they created a personalized plan for a budget and discussed action items to improve her credit report. In a little over a year, the client paid off $2,000 in debt to bring her defaulted account up to date, which reduced her repayment plan from $809/month to $103/month. This allowed her to save $13,000 for her downpayment.

To date, Operation HOPE has helped over 12,000 new homeowners reach their dream. However, it’s not just about that sole accomplishment—homeownership means so much more. Families who own homes can pass down that wealth, providing increased financial security to each new generation. In addition, they can contribute to the general wealth of their community—by nearly 40 times the amount of net worth than renters, according to the latest report by the Federal Reserve’s Survey of Consumer Finances (SCF).

“While there’s a lot of assistance for first time home buyers, you do need to do your part and commit to saving for a down payment and other closing expenses. At first, we didn’t think it would be feasible to buy the home but with the assistance we received through Operation HOPE and the resources our loan officer connected us with, we were able to actually get the home with the funds we had saved. It’s a relief that I know exactly what my housing costs will be, so I have the wiggle room to take on other loans and still maintain a reasonable debt to income ratio,” said Nancy and George, HOPE Homeownership Clients.

Cross collaboration with Clayton

Clayton is a leading national builder of single-family attainable housing dedicated to opening doors to a better life through homeownership.

With Clayton’s partnership, we expanded our digital offerings of self-guided homeownership education, making financial literacy instantly available to more people.  Digital access, like our HOPE in Hand app, has been crucial to reach people across the nation, no matter where they live or where they are in their journey toward financial freedom.

With Clayton’s support, since 2022, the HOPE Inside Homeownership Program empowered more than 14,000 clients with homeownership services and resources, placing them in a better position to purchase a home. Importantly, working with Clayton allowed us to help over 300 people achieve homeownership in 2024 alone.

 Many individuals and families across the country feel that homeownership, a fundamental piece of the American dream, is out of reach. As we continue our valued partnership with Clayton, we look toward making homeownership a reality for more families across the country, at any financial starting point. Access and planning represent a necessary first step.

 If you are looking to start this journey, go to OperationHope.org to sign up with a coach or register for our workshops.

The post From Renters to Owners: Creating a Pipeline to Homeownership appeared first on Operation HOPE.

“There is no right time. It’s just having the right idea and you just can start and you can still learn on the way,” said Sierra B., a serial entrepreneur based in Jacksonville, Florida. This agile mindset served Sierra well when she started her fashion accessory business, KK Compliments. A self-described “sponge,” Sierra learned all she could about social media and content production and applied it to promoting her business. She was so successful that customers couldn’t believe that she was a one-woman operation. “They thought it looked like I was this big corporation. It just snowballed to me teaching others [about social media] and then offering those services to people,” she said.

While Sierra was clear on the services she wanted to offer clients in her new venture – Maverick Media – she did crave more knowledge about corporate governance and business strategy so that she could be eligible for loans and grants that she didn’t access in her first business. Through the Jacksonville start-up community, Sierra was introduced to Liz Joiner, a Small Business Coach at Operation HOPE and promptly joined the organization’s Small Business Development Program and 1MBB initiative to grow Maverick Media.

“I love the aspect of it being a workshop,” said Sierra about Operation HOPE’s program for entrepreneurs. “I look forward to it every week and taking my notes, and also learning the proper way to structure my business because everything I had learned with KK Compliments was kind of like trial and error,” she said. Sierra also credits Liz with why she graduated the program. “Liz was very relatable and genuine, always encouraging me to reach out if I ever had any questions,” she said. In true form, Sierra took the learnings from the Small Business Development Program and not only applied them to her business, but used them to guide her clients as well.

“I was aware of a SWOT analysis (analyzing the venture’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats) from a prior workshop, but going in-depth on it during this program really just resonated with me, and it’s something that I’m still recommending to every client of mine,” she said. For Sierra, it adds immense value to the client relationship to help them think “bigger picture” through SWOT analysis and other frameworks. “I like to know more about what their business is—their mission and story that they’re trying to portray because visually I got to portray that story as well for them,” she explained.

Sierra implores people to be open to change and evolve: “You don’t have to be stuck in a box, you can do whatever,” she said. By way of a recent example, she pointed to joining YouTube and figuring out editing styles along the way as she produces content. “I’m actually doing the things that I wanted to do. I’ve never thought that it was possible. It’s just like, okay, I’m in it and I’m actually doing it. I’m getting paid to travel, to go places that I’ve never been, experience different things, and also doing what I love, which is creating memories for others.”

Sierra is a true example of how adopting a learning mindset—and leveraging available resources—can grow your business in sometimes unexpected ways.

The post Successful Entrepreneur Continues Learning with Operation HOPE appeared first on Operation HOPE.

Pope Francis’s legacy serves as a profound reminder of the power of humility, empathy, and action in creating a more just and inclusive world. As we reflect on his life and teachings, we are inspired to continue our work with renewed dedication, striving to build an economy that serves everyone, especially the most vulnerable.​

Our thoughts and prayers are with the Catholic community and all who were touched by Pope Francis’s leadership and compassion.

The post Remembering His Holiness Pope Francis appeared first on Operation HOPE.

Judith was 79 when she walked into one of our HOPE Inside locations, burdened by $34,000 in debt and juggling two mortgages. Despite having a steady income, the rising cost of living and credit card minimums made it nearly impossible to stay afloat, especially as she tried to support her unemployed son.

When her loan application was denied due to a low credit score, Judith was referred to the HOPE Credit and Money Management Program by a trusted bank partner. That’s when everything began to change.

Working alongside her dedicated HOPE Financial Wellbeing Coach, Judith completed our financial empowerment workshop, built a budget, and began the journey to improve her credit. When her score unexpectedly dropped to 597, they took a closer look and uncovered fraudulent activity on her report. Together, they filed disputes and stayed the course.

Today, Judith’s FICO score has soared to 702. She’s now back at the bank to apply for the loan she once thought was out of reach.

Her journey is a powerful reminder: it’s never too late to take control of your financial future.

If Judith can do it, so can you. Connect with a HOPE financial coach today and take your first step toward financial freedom. Visit www.operationhope.org to get started today!

The post At 79, Judith Took Control of Her Finances and Found HOPE appeared first on Operation HOPE.

We implore those affected to evacuate, seek shelter, and contact our HOPE Inside Disaster partners, the American Red Cross and FEMA, for emergency assistance at 1-800-RED-CROSS

Operation HOPE stands ready to help connect survivors with resources and stand with them through financial disaster recovery. Contact us at 888-388-HOPE or visit https://operationhope.org/programs/financial-disaster-recovery/ to connect with a disaster recovery coach. 

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