Compass submits written testimony in support of the Affordable Homes Act

Compass Working Capital strongly supports the Affordable Homes Act, Governor Maura Healey’s $4.13 billion housing bond bill and the largest housing investment in Massachusetts history. Compass CEO Markita Morris-Louis submitted written testimony on January 18, 2024 to the Joint Committee on Housing.

Among the bill’s comprehensive combination of investments and policy initiatives, Compass specifically supports the Governor’s proposed $50 million to support first-time homebuyers through the MassDREAMS program. Although clients in our FSS programs save on average $9,000, in today’s housing market it’s often not enough to make their homeownership goals a reality. Programs like MassDREAMS can open the door to homeownership for countless families to take this important wealth-building step.

To counteract the impacts of historical, cross-generational discriminatory housing policies, we must prioritize bold action like the Affordable Homes Act that support narrowing the racial homeownership gap, and by extension, the racial and gender wealth divides.

Click here to read our full written testimony.

Compass welcomes new Board Members, Karen Wallace and Heather Wellington

Compass welcomes new Board Members, Karen Wallace and Heather Wellington

Compass Working Capital is pleased to announce the appointment of two new members to our Board of Directors: Karen Wallace of Associated Industries of Massachusetts and Heather Wellington of FD Stonewater.

“Our Board of Directors is a group of dedicated leaders who have committed themselves to ending asset poverty for families with low incomes,” says Markita Morris-Louis, CEO of Compass. “I am excited to welcome Karen and Heather and know that their expertise in marketing and community development, respectively, will be tremendously valuable to advancing our mission.”

Karen Wallace currently serves as the Executive Vice President of Marketing for Associated Industries of Massachusetts (AIM), the Commonwealths’ premier business trade organization. Karen shares, “I couldn’t be prouder to have the opportunity to work with Compass Working Capital, a team of individuals who are so committed to moving women from poverty to prosperity.”

Heather Wellington is Vice President, Development at FD Stonewater, a boutique real estate brokerage investment, development, and asset management firm. “I’m excited to join the Board of Directors for Compass as its mission and core values speak to me personally through the lived experiences of my upbringing. I look forward to serving as a resource to the Compass team as they continue their work to end asset poverty for families with low incomes and to narrow the racial and gender wealth divides. We all have a role in ensuring that equal opportunities are available to all individuals and Compass provides both the education and exposure necessary to change lives in this generation and the next,” Heather writes.

Compass is also grateful to welcome two former Board members to our National Advisory Board: Lidiane Jones, Slack CEO at Salesforce, and Asha Mehta, CFA of Global Delta Capital. We thank Lidiane and Asha for their years of service to our Board of Directors and look forward to their continued support in this new role.

Read more about our newest board members below.

About Karen Wallace

Karen Wallace is an accomplished strategic business leader with experience in the financial services, higher education, arts, and non-profit sectors. She is currently the Executive Vice President of Marketing for Associated Industries of Massachusetts (AIM), the Commonwealths’ premier business trade organization.

Prior to her role at AIM, Karen ran her own marketing consulting firm where she worked with such clients as Northeastern University and the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum.  She also spent 20+ years leading highly effective teams at Fidelity Investments in B2B, B2C, and corporate marketing environments developing business strategy, and executing award winning campaigns. Her last role was Senior Vice President of Communications and Branding.

Karen is personally passionate about all things related to economic inclusion and financial literacy. As a result, in addition to leading AIM’s marketing function, she has a primary role in the operations of AIM’s supplier diversity initiative; AIM Business Connect. She also has run financial literacy programs in the Boston faith-based community.

Karen holds a BS, and MBA, from Simmons University, as well as certificates from Tuck School of Business and MIT Sloan School of Management. She is the Vice Chair of the Board of Directors for the Boston Children’s Chorus, an organization that leverages the power of music to connect diverse communities and inspire social inquiry. She is also a member of the National Black MBA Association and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. 

About Heather Wellington

Mrs. Heather Wellington is Vice President, Development at FD Stonewater, a boutique real estate brokerage investment, development, and asset management firm. In this role, she provides project management leadership and oversight for development projects nationally.

Mrs. Wellington is an institutional commercial real estate professional with over 15 years of extensive development experience in commercial real estate development and asset management. Her extensive development experience includes overseeing all aspects of the development process, including acquisition, entitlement, design, and construction management, for mixed-use, residential, office, retail, and hotel projects in urban environments. She has managed new construction, base building renovations, and tenant improvements of more than 3 million square feet of space in excess of $750 million.

Mrs. Wellington earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance and Marketing from The George Washington University and a Master of Science in Real Estate Development from The Colvin Institute of Real Estate Development at the University of Maryland, College Park. She is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, Vice Chairwoman of the District of Columbia Housing Finance Agency, President of the African American Real Estate Professionals of D.C., and an active member of the Urban Land Institute.

About Compass

Compass Working Capital ("Compass") works to end asset poverty for families with low incomes and narrow the racial and gender wealth divides. Compass partners with affordable housing providers to run the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's Family Self-Sufficiency program, the nation's largest asset building program for families with low incomes. Since 2010 Compass has supported 5,000 families to build more than $17 million in savings

Wells Fargo Foundation commits $3.45 Million to Compass Working Capital to expand access to Family Self-Sufficiency program

Wells Fargo Foundation commits $3.45 Million to Compass Working Capital to expand access to Family Self-Sufficiency program

The Wells Fargo Foundation has committed $3.45 million over the next three years to Compass Working Capital (“Compass”) to help expand access to the Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) program, a savings incentive program that helps families increase their earnings and build financial capability and assets. Compass, based out of Boston and Philadelphia, is working to end asset poverty for families with low incomes and narrow the racial and gender wealth divides. The funding from Wells Fargo supports the first phase of Compass’ seven-year strategic plan to expand access to the federally funded Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) program, administered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

“Undoing the centuries of exploitation and financial harm that created the racial and gender wealth gaps requires major, reparative investments from the private sector to address that harm. We are excited that Wells Fargo is with us in expanding access to the opportunity FSS offers families, particularly those led by Black and/or Latina women, to become asset secure and achieve the dreams they have for themselves and their children,” shares Markita Morris-Louis, Chief Executive Officer of Compass Working Capital.

The FSS program combines a powerful savings incentive with services to support families residing in federally subsidized affordable housing to build assets. It enables families who increase their earned income to capture the corresponding rent increase into an escrow savings account. This account builds over time and families can use their savings to achieve their goals, such as paying down debt, higher education, and homeownership.

Wells Fargo is the first corporate funder to make a significant philanthropic investment in Compass’ seven-year strategic plan, driven by its successful, comprehensive programs for FSS-eligible families. On average, Compass FSS program participants build over $8,000 in savings and increase their annual income by more than $10,000.

“The FSS program has proven to be life changing for thousands of low-income renters – helping them build financial capability and assets through comprehensive interventions that improve their savings, credit, and financial independence,” said Bonnie Wallace, head of Financial Health Philanthropy at Wells Fargo. “Through this additional $3.45 million investment to Compass through 2026, we hope to accelerate the outsized impact its programming has on the financial security and economic mobility of families in public housing.”

With this support from Wells Fargo, Compass aims to reach the following milestones in the next three years:

• Support 6,660 families to build $5.7 million in savings and $7.2 million in increased earnings.

• Expand training and technical assistance to affordable housing providers to replicate Compass’ outcomes.

• Shape policy solutions that further break down barriers to becoming asset secure, such as an automatic enrollment model for FSS.

To learn more about Compass’ strategic plan and how you can support, contact Jimmy Stuart, Chief External Affairs Officer, jstuart@compassworkingcapital.org.

Compass receives increased funding from Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Massachusetts Boosts Compass Working Capital's Work to Expand Family Self-Sufficiency Program in Newly Signed Budget 

In a powerful demonstration of the state’s continued commitment to fostering economic growth through lifting historically underserved communities, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts has provided a substantial increase in funding for Compass Working Capital and the Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) program in this year’s budget. The organization's budget has been elevated to an impressive $175,000 in the current fiscal year, which will help to boost Compass’ work on FSS in Greater Boston.  

Compass Working Capital (Compass), a national nonprofit headquartered in Boston, works to break the cycle of intergenerational poverty by partnering with families with low incomes to acquire assets to achieve their financial goals. Through its administration of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's Family Self-Sufficiency program, the nation’s largest asset-building program for families with low incomes, Compass supports families to increase their earning potential, build savings and secure a brighter future for themselves and their children. 

The injection of additional funds from the Massachusetts budget underscores the commonwealth’s recognition of Compass Working Capital's impactful contributions to the Boston-area. "We are incredibly grateful for the trust and support that the Governor and the Massachusetts legislature have shown in our work, particularly Senator Mike Rush and Representative Chynah Tyler," said Markita Morris-Louis, Chief Executive Officer of Compass Working Capital. "This increased funding will enable us to expand our reach to narrow the pervasive wealth gap that continues to hold back Black and Latino families with low incomes. By investing in its residents, Massachusetts is taking a decisive step toward building a more prosperous and equitable future for all.”  

“I am proud to have secured funding to support Compass Working Capital in collaboration with House sponsor Representative Chynah Tyler and our fellow legislators,” said Senator Mike Rush, who represents the Norfolk and Suffolk Senate District. “This funding will help Compass to empower families in our district and beyond to achieve financial stability.” 

"I was very grateful to file a budget amendment on behalf of Compass,” said Representative Chynah Tyler, who represents the 7th Suffolk District in the House. “The work they do in helping families in my district and throughout the Commonwealth of Massachusetts achieve their financial goals is amazing."   

The increased funding will enable Compass Working Capital to enhance its existing programming in Greater Boston, develop new initiatives, and collaborate with local partners to create a comprehensive ecosystem of support for families in need. By addressing both short-term financial challenges and long-term financial goals, the organization is poised to make a lasting difference in the lives of countless individuals and communities. 

First-ever evaluation of FSS programs by multifamily owners released

Earlier this fall Compass announced the first two reports in a series of studies on the impact of our FSS programs. Today, we’re excited to share the latest in our on-going research series conducted by Abt Associates that analyzes the impact of our FSS programs run in partnership with private property owners. This is the first study of it’s kind for FSS programs run with private, multifamily housing providers.

In 2016, Compass entered a partnership with the Preservation of Affordable Housing (POAH), a nonprofit housing provider, to offer our model for the Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) program to POAH residents - one of the first partnerships of its kind in the country. This study finds that after 2.5 years in the program, program participants:

• Increased their annual income by $1,933 - a 17% increase compared to matched peers

• Reduced their income from public benefits by $343 - a 99% decrease compared to matched peers

These promising early findings build confidence that we can achieve FSS program outcomes with private owners that are similar to the strong outcomes seen in our partnerships with public housing authorities.

Private owners have only become eligible to offer FSS to residents in the last 5 years; the study bolsters the case for more owners to offer the program to help residents increase their earnings and build financial security.

Special thanks to our partners at POAH and to the funders that supported this research. You can read more about this series of research from Abt Associates by clicking here.

New research contributes to growing body of evidence that FSS programs run by Compass are cost-effective and support families to substantially increase earnings

As part of our current strategic plan, Compass has been focused on expanding the evidence base for the impact of our model for the Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) program on participating families. Two reports released recently by our evaluation partners at Abt Associates found that over the course of their time in the program, Compass FSS participants earn more money and receive less public assistance than their matched peers. What’s more, the study found that Compass FSS programs are highly cost-effective, producing over a 2:1 return on investment.

The report is based on programs that we have run in partnership with Cambridge Housing Authority, MA Department of Housing and Community Development, Metro Housing|Boston, and Lynn Housing Authority and Neighborhood Development.

Highlights of the reports demonstrate that Compass FSS participants had:

• Annual household earnings that were $4,997 (21%) higher than the comparison group just 1.5 years after enrollment

• Annual household earnings that were $6,032 (23%) higher than the comparison group 3.2 years after enrollment

• Annual public assistance income that was $249 (39%) lower than the comparison group.

These outcomes help to demonstrate that well-run FSS programs with a focus on asset building hold tremendous potential for women and families to build significant earnings that can set them up for long-term financial security. With nationwide FSS enrollment rates relatively low at only 3% of an estimated 2.2 million eligible households, this report underscores the importance of increasing participation in the FSS program in Massachusetts and across the country. Compass remains committed to reaching our goal of reaching 220,000 households with our model for the FSS program by 2030, through our direct service partnerships, our field-building learning platform FSS Link, and other efforts.

These reports are the first in a series of publications that Abt Associates will release this year on the impact of the FSS programs on families’ abilities to build financial stability. Stay tuned for future releases throughout the year. Special thanks to our program partners for their participation in this study: Cambridge Housing Authority, MA Department of Housing and Community Development, Metro Housing|Authority, and Lynn Housing Authority and Neighborhood Development.

Building community around financial goals at Bay Meadow Apartments

A resident at Bay Meadow Apartments shows off the vision board she made at a community gathering hosted by the Compass FSS program earlier this year

For clients in a Compass FSS program, the work of becoming more financially secure and making progress toward your financial goals can sometimes feel like something you’re doing all on your own. While a financial coach is there to be a consistent voice of encouragement, clarity, and support, it can also make a real difference when clients have the opportunity to support and learn from one another.

Over the past several months, Christine Torres, a financial coach at Bay Meadow Apartments in Springfield, MA, has been trying out a new idea to build community among her clients in the FSS program. At the property – which is owned and managed by our partners at Preservation of Affordable Housing (POAH) – Christine has hosted quarterly “gatherings” as a space where clients can connect with one another, celebrate their progress, share what they are learning, and explore a specific financial topic together.

For Christine, the gatherings are all about finding new ways to connect clients with the information they’re looking for to guide their financial decisions, and finding ways to help clients more deeply engage with the program. At the first gathering last fall, clients talked about their plans to navigate the holidays. While the holidays can be a special time, they also can bring stress and wreak havoc on even the best laid financial plans – for any family, but particularly for families with low incomes. At this gathering, clients talked about strategies for getting ahead and avoiding the stress and the pressure to spend, and played an online simulation game called “Spent” to see how spending decisions can impact long-term goals.

Residents, including Luz Ramos at left, working on their vision boards

At the second gathering, in January, clients talked about goal-setting for the new year. Clients created “vision boards” using cut-outs from magazines, as a tool to be able to visualize their goals until they are able to make them a reality. Children and other family members even joined in the fun! While building their boards, clients also began to share with and learn from one another – about their goals and visions for the future, and some of the strategies and techniques that have been most helpful to them in getting to where they are so far in the program.

We spoke with four FSS clients at Bay Meadow who attended one or both of these gatherings. Here is some of what each of them had to say about the experience:

Luz Ramos, who is working toward her goal of owning her own home: “I am so blessed to have Christine on my side. Every time she has a gathering I make sure to go. Not only do we have a good time, but I also get to meet all the residents that are trying to do what I’m doing. This FSS program is the best thing I’ve ever done.”

Roslyn Drummer, who is working on improving her credit, saving money, and being able to buy her own home: “Christine throws these gatherings to further us along. Everyone shares about their experience and talks about the goals they’ve been working on. She knows that some people are shy and maybe don’t want to talk about money, but Christine has a lovely personality that brings out things in people. The program really works. I’ve been in it for three years, and evidently it’s working because the majority of us that are there at these gatherings started out together with the FSS program and we’re trying to complete our goals.”

A young resident joins in on the fun!

Laconia Fennell, who is working to improve her credit and saving for a house, and who also recently reached her goal of purchasing a car after the transmission went on her old one: “I heard about the gatherings in a meeting with Christine. It was a vision-board workshop. I’m a single mom and I don’t have a babysitter, but I was able to bring my son and he did his vision board while I did mine. It’s good to be around people who are like-minded and want to strive for better and reaching their goals. Putting things on paper, making it visual, really helps get things done.”

Jennifer Alleyne, whose big goal is to buy a house: “Not only do these gatherings bring our community together, but they encouraged all of us even more to make it to the next meeting and our next coaching appointment. Christine’s vision board idea was awesome. I had so many visions on my vision board that I had to get another board. I couldn’t finish everything in one session! Now it’s something I can look at and look forward to on a daily basis, and work toward to reach them.”

Compass unveils new video to help explain FSS program

HUD’s Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) program is a powerful program, but can be difficult to explain. An interdepartmental team at Compass recently worked with a design studio to develop a short video to better explain to prospective Compass FSS clients and other stakeholders how the program works. The video is also available free to members of Compass FSS Link, our new online learning platform for FSS practitioners. Check out these versions in both English and Spanish:

Compass Staff Win AFCPE Outstanding Practitioner's Forum Award

Last month, Lucia Reed, Compass’ Financial Services Manager and Program Manager, and George Reuter, Compass’ Director of Learning and Knowledge Management, were recognized with the award for “Outstanding Symposium Practitioners’ Forum Award” as part of the Association of Financial Counseling & Planning Education® (AFCPE®) annual national symposium, held in Norfolk, Virginia. Lucia and George had the opportunity to present during the symposium on Compass’ financial coaching and asset building model for the Family Self-Sufficiency program.

Here’s what Lucia had to say about the experience: “We were excited to be able to share what we’ve learned about running our model for the FSS program with folks in the AFCPE community who may not be aware of it. A lot of our coaching staff have the AFC certification, so it meant a lot to be involved with AFCPE in this way.”

Read more about the award here: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/afcpe-professionals-raise-their-voices-for-innovation-and-impact-300756662.html?tc=eml_cleartime

Toinette Rivas: Advisory Board Profile

Toinette Rivas is a founding member of Compass’ Advisory Board. She currently works in institutional equity sales at Bernstein, following several years in research and sales at Credit Suisse. Toinette is a native of Miami, Florida and a graduate of Colby College. She lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts with her family.

We recently sat down with Toinette to learn more about what drew her to get involved with Compass and what she wants others to know about the organization.

Compass: You’ve been involved with Compass in several different capacities for more than six years. What was it that initially attracted you to the organization?

Toinette: I first learned about Compass through a friend who was on the Board. I’m a big believer in nonprofits that focus on giving people the tools they need to succeed. Also, I grew up in Miami with a mother who is a social worker for the elderly. I’ve seen how much time she spends with her clients on finances and what they can afford. Through my mom’s work I have seen the gap that exists for people in terms of having the financial information they need to move forward. Solving this gap is at the heart of Compass’ mission.

I also really connect to Compass because of its focus on serving women and the Hispanic community. My grandparents came to this country from Cuba, and were able to get the tools and help they needed to succeed. Today in Massachusetts, that’s not the case for a lot of others, and I feel like Compass is helping to change that.

Compass: Can you tell us a little bit about the different ways you’ve supported Compass over the years?

Toinette: I’ve always been involved with the Annual Breakfast Benefit – inviting people in my network to attend, and giving Compass a chance to share its work with more people. Over the last couple years, I’ve been involved with the Advisory Board and the Board Program Committee. That’s given me the chance to really understand the work Compass does and its impact, such as the recent study by Abt Associates on the Compass model, or the opt-out pilot in Cambridge.

Compass: You mentioned having done a lot of work to introduce other people you know to Compass. What do you usually tell people about Compass to get them interested?

Toinette: It’s an easy story to sell. Everyone has their own personal experience of not understanding a credit card statement or mortgage statement and so on. And there’s the recognition that all of us have gotten help to get to where we are, so it’s important for us to provide that same support to others. I talk about how the program is really focused on supporting people and giving them the tools to reach their own goals. I also talk about the American Dream – Compass is helping people to build savings, to create a better life for themselves and their families.

Compass: Do you have any favorite memories from your involvement with Compass?

Toinette: My favorite part has been seeing Compass grow. When I met the Founder, Sherry, for coffee six years ago, Compass didn’t even have its own office in Boston. It’s incredible to have watched the organization grow from Cambridge and Lynn to across New England and the nation. The model is so scalable and there is truly such a big opportunity for Compass to change so many peoples’ lives. I also love seeing the individual client’s stories – Rosa’s video is my favorite.

Compass: Do you have any big goals or ideas that you'd like to bring to your work with Compass in the future?

Toinette: I know Compass is really focused on serving families, but I feel like there’s an opportunity to help more young people figure out a financial road map. Some of the basic financial education that Compass provides can help young people, too. My sister is a volunteer with a mentoring program and I was able to connect her mentee with a coach at Compass for some advice. It was great to see how that kind of connection was such a help to her, too.

A reflection from one of the first people to enroll in our new FSS program in Philadelphia

In late October, Compass celebrated our new FSS partnership in Philadelphia at an event hosted by GreenLight Fund - Philadelphia. The event included Philadelphia’s top leaders across the nonprofit sector, corporate executives, entrepreneurs and investors, and city and state government leadership, as well as our partners Philadelphia Housing Authority and Clarifi. 

Akirah Pressley, who is one of the very first people to enroll in this new program, shared the following words at the launch event:

Good evening. My name is Akirah Pressley, and I am one of the first people to enroll in the Compass FSS program run by Clarifi.

I was born and raised in Philadelphia. I am 26 years old, and have moved over 20 times in my lifetime. That is one reason why my main goal in this program is to become a homeowner. I want a place called my own, and the stability that owning a home can give.

The other reason I want to own a home is my son. He will be 9 years old next month. I don’t want him to go through the same things that I had to go through. I want him to have a place that he can point to and say “this is where I grew up.”

I had my son young, when I was 17. I’ve learned a lot of things since then, but I’ve had to learn them on my own. I want better than what I had and where I came from. I want better for my son.

If it wasn’t for PHA, I wouldn’t be able to pay my rent. I know a lot of people are embarrassed of being on PHA. They won’t go in to ask for help or resources. And there’s a lot of people with negative things to say about people on PHA, like you’re walking around with all this extra money because PHA helps with your rent. You have to understand that the money you earn is broken down into a percentage. And I still have to pay my own gas and electric, get to work, take care of my child. What I want is to not have to wonder where I’m going to get the money to take care of things in my life, to have to choose between paying a bill or something else. I’ve been working at it, and every year I become better.

But I feel like if I had had someone to guide me, that there’s a lot of things I went through that I wouldn’t have had to go through. 

Clarifi is one place that has already really helped me. I’ve been working with Clarifi since 2015. I feel appreciated at Clarifi. I feel like you all care that I am a person who wants to do better. You want to help me because I want to help myself. With Clarifi’s help, I’ve worked on bringing down my debt and have started to build some savings. I have saved what I could, but I would like to have been able to save more.

I know I need to save more in order to reach my goals, and this FSS program means I don’t have to do that alone, on my own. I started off in my first job making $5,000 a year, working part-time as a retail associate at Macy’s. Now I work as a one-to-one assistant in Philadelphia Public Schools, and have another job as well.

I know with this program that the more I make, the more I save. The program rewards me for hard work. That’s a motivation for me. Right now, I’m in school part-time for early childhood education. I plan to eventually open my own daycare business. And when I do, I want it to be a place where other parents can learn about programs and resources that can help, because I am the type of person who will share what I learn, when I find something that’s beneficial to me.

I also share what I learn with my son. At 8 years old, he already knows things like the difference between a credit and a debit card. He has also started his own savings, and we are planning to open a savings account for him soon.

To close, I just want to say that I believe that everyone deserves a chance and an opportunity to do better, and that there a lot of people in Philadelphia who are looking for a program like this. Thank you.

Compass hosts first annual graduation celebration in Cambridge, MA

On November 13th, over 100 people gathered to celebrate the first class of graduates from the FSS+ program that Compass runs in partnership with Cambridge Housing Authority in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Guests included program graduates, their families, Cambridge Housing Authority and Compass staff, as well as several friends and supporters of Compass.

Click here to see more photos>

Together these 86 graduates saved over $460,000 in their program savings accounts over the last five years! These graduates have used those savings to improve their financial security and work toward their financial goals, such as purchasing a home, improving credit, or building emergency savings to ensure that an unexpected challenge in the future doesn’t push their family off track.

The evening included dinner, remarks from Compass and Cambridge Housing Authority staff, a presentation of certificates, and reflections from two members of this graduating class.

Program graduate Nanouce Saint Fort shared about how she has opened a college savings account for her son, and her progress toward her goal of becoming a nurse. “I’ll be the first one to say that I’m in a much different situation today than I was five years ago, and I know I’m not the only one! I think many of us here can say the same,” Nanounce shared. “This program helped me see that opportunities are out there.”

Gardite Fougy, another program graduate, shared how being a mother of three children encouraged her to join the program and work toward her goals - like improving her credit and becoming a homeowner. Thinking back on life before she enrolled in the FSS+ program, Gardite had this to say: “I remember always thinking about how I was going to survive through next week – put food on the table, put gas in the car to go to work, living paycheck to paycheck…All of us here have come such a long way. I hope that what we can show other people is that they can do it, too.”

From all of us at Compass, congratulations again to all of the graduates. We can’t wait to hold more celebrations like this one in the future.