Isaura

For a long time, Isaura felt like she was living paycheck to paycheck – barely getting by to cover the basic necessities. So when a housing coordinator at Madison Park, a property managed by WinnCompanies, told her that the Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) program could help her save part of her rent, it immediately got her attention. To Isaura, “The best part is that you pay your rent and they automatically take care of putting the money in a savings account; you don’t have to worry or do anything extra. It interested me because there are many programs that offer help, but you do not see the benefit. At Compass they explain very clearly how they can help you.”  

For the past two years, Isaura has been working with her Compass Financial Coach Yenny on her goals to improve her credit score, better manage her budget , and find ways to save. Isaura shares, “My coach has given me great recommendations, my credit is currently very good and I continue to work on it. I believe that good credit is key to getting ahead in this country.”  Thanks to all her hard work, Isaura’s credit score has already increased over 100 points and is now in the upper 700s!  

In reaching some of these short-term goals, Isaura is excited to continue to save money through her FSS savings account and lay the foundation to achieve her ultimate dream of becoming a homeowner. “I was always thought that it is better to have your own home, it would be nice not to have to worry about my rent going up. Having my own home can open up doors to keep growing and, in the future, buy another house to help me pay my expenses. It will be so good to say I have a house to live in. I’ll feel so fulfilled, and doubly so because my children will be happy to have their own home.” 

Reflecting on her experience in the Compass FSS program, Isaura feels much stronger financially and is excited about the opportunities that have opened for her thanks to her newfound knowledge. “It means a lot because you open doors to learn about things you didn’t know before. It helps you take steps towards your goals. What I have learned I have been able to share with my family.” The future is bright for Isaura and we look forward to supporting her as she continues to take steps towards homeownership!