LA CROSSE, Wis. – October 11, 2021 – Finding HOME, a free financial literacy program created by the Marine Credit Union Foundation, has expanded its reach to residents in the Fond du Lac and Sheboygan areas.
Finding HOME is a financial literacy and behavior change program designed to help credit-challenged borrowers achieve homeownership. The program was launched in 2018 to help the Foundation further its mission. To date, counselors have assisted 289 households to identify and build an individualized roadmap toward homeownership. Eighty-two families qualified for and were connected to existing mortgage products or programs in their first appointment. Fifty-five families who did not qualify for a mortgage anywhere else entered Finding HOME.
Connecting with a Finding HOME counselor is a free way for individuals and families to find their best path to homeownership. Any household can schedule an appointment to receive a financial review. If they enter Finding HOME, this 12-18-month program consists of one-on-one financial literacy counseling, educational courses, and resource navigation assistance. Finding HOME participants are not required to become Marine Credit Union members or hold Marine Credit Union accounts.
As a result of changed spending and borrowing habits, participants of the program increase their credit scores, reduce their debt, and build robust savings accounts—before being connected with homeownership. Graduates of Finding HOME are guaranteed access to a market-rate mortgage that fits their budget.
“Since Finding HOME was created three years ago, we’ve been eager to expand the program’s reach and extend its life-changing impact,” says the MCU Foundation’s Executive Director, Quinn Devlin. “Finding HOME has helped hundreds of families in the La Crosse area get a clearer picture of their financial situation and learn how homeownership is within reach, and now participants in Fond du Lac and Sheboygan will be able to develop the same sense of hope.”
The program now has openings for new participants in the Fond du Lac and Sheboygan areas. Individuals, families, or households who could benefit from Finding HOME should contact Lisa Anne Musch at 608-737-1662 or Finding.HOME@MarineCU.com to schedule an appointment.
Since Finding HOME was launched in May 2018:
Since the MCU Foundation was created in January 2014:
Four in five Marine employees contribute to the MCU Foundation through an automatic payroll deduction. The credit union matches each employee donation—for every dollar an individual donates, Marine donates two.
Marine Credit Union is built upon the strong belief that members are more than a credit score, and we are committed to providing financial services to all members of the community—including those with past financial challenges. Marine will continue our long-standing tradition of delivering personalized lending solutions to fit our members’ individual needs. Marine Credit Union is a full-service financial institution serving members with office locations in Wisconsin, Minnesota and Iowa. For more information, connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and LinkedIn.