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Nine families transform their financial lives through the MCU Foundation’s Finding HOME program

Families pay off $58K in debt, Save $74K collectively in program

LA CROSSE, WI (September 28, 2020) — This month nine families, who never thought they would be able to buy a house, will own a home (or be ready to buy one) through the Marine Credit Union (MCU) Foundation’s Finding HOME Program.

Finding HOME is a free financial literacy program for credit-challenged borrowers that grants them a home loan at the end. The program helps families improve their finances achieve homeownership and develop skills to keep financial stability.

Since the Finding HOME program began in May 2018, the program has proven remarkable success for local families. Collectively they have:

Paid off over $58,000 in debt.
Saved over $74,000.
Improved their credit scores an average of 84 points per adult.

The families include three single moms and 25 children who are now (or will soon be) in safer, more stable homes.

Family Story: The Samsons

Recent graduates Anasthasia and Stuart Samson spent 15 months in the program. “I first heard about Finding HOME from my daughter’s Head Start teacher,” said Anasthasia. “To our surprise, we discovered this is a program that can help us reach our goal of buying a home, even with student loan debt and not stellar credit.”

Throughout the program, the Samsons raised their credit scores a combined 175 points, saved almost $10,000, and paid down 35% of their total debt. The family bought their home, for their family of seven (five daughters) in July 2020. “We are so thankful to the Marine Credit Union Foundation for having a program available that could help not only buy a house but change our lives!” said Anasthasia.

About Marine Credit Union

Marine Credit Union is a full-service, member-owned financial cooperative serving more than 78,000 members across Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota and Illinois. Headquartered in La Crosse, Wisconsin, Marine employs more than 400 people, operates 20 locations and holds over $1 billion in assets. Guided by its mission, “to advance the lives of people from a place of financial need to a life of ownership and giving back in our communities,” Marine looks at its members’ individual finances less as a number and more as a journey. The Marine Credit Union Foundation has donated more than $1.3 million to over 950 charitable causes since 2014. Marine earned Great Place to Work™ Certification in 2022 and Juntos Avanzamos designation in 2017 for its commitment to the Hispanic community. For more information, go to www.marinecu.com.

About Finding HOME

Finding HOME is administered by Majel Hein, Marine’s Financial Literacy Counselor in La Crosse. Majel has counseled 167 people in the La Crosse area to find their best path to homeownership. 71 have entered the Finding HOME program, and 41 others have been guided to the right mortgage lending products or programs for their families. The other 55 people were given steps on how to improve their finances and move towards home ownership.

The program currently has openings for new participants. Individuals, families or households who could benefit could benefit from Finding HOME should contact Majel Hein at 608-791-1385 orFinding. HOME@MarineCU.com to schedule an appointment.

About the Marine Credit Union Foundation

The Marine Credit Union Foundation is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization committed to making charitable contributions and increasing the financial literacy in the communities Marine Credit Union serves.