HCC Financial Coaches lead the charge for disaster relief with “Swoop to the Rescue” emergency funds for students
Sep 25, 2017
Dr. Cesar Maldonado authorized the creation of “Swoop to the Rescue Emergency Scholarship”, in a September 2, 2017 Office of the Chancellor Memorandum, that was proposed by HCC’s Financial Coaches in response to widespread devastation caused by Hurricane Harvey.
Financial Coaches
- Chris Ardoin – Northeast
- Dominique Brown – Northwest
- Joel Philistin – Central
- Shanell Foster – Stafford and Missouri City
- Armando Galvan Cruces – Southeast
- Shalandria Williams – West Loop and Coleman
Under the direction of Financial Aid Executive Director JoEllen Soucier, the Financial Coaches, are responsible for helping students reduce financial barriers to completion. They do this through on-campus financial literacy events, classroom presentations, cross-departmental partnerships and partnerships with community agencies that provide resources to handle gaps in basic needs.
As a natural extension of their work, the Financial Coaches proposed the “Swoop to the Rescue” Emergency Scholarship to offer in-house emergency funding for students who suffered losses because of Hurricane Harvey.
Swoop to the Rescue is funded through $250K in auxiliary scholarship funds, $100K from the HCC Foundation and $25K from Barnes and Noble College Bookstore. Since its approval and implementation the first week of school, the financial coaches:
- Awarded $100K in emergency scholarships to students who were referred by financial aid, student services, student surveys and faculty.
- Awarded $25K to replace books and supplies destroyed by Hurricane Harvey.
- Hosted 11 Community Resource Fairs that gave students access to agencies providing basic needs support.
Senior Vice Chancellor of Finance and Administration Teri Zamora, who manages appropriation of auxiliary funds, immediately championed the effort after Financial Aid Executive Director JoEllen Soucier shared it with her.
“I think Swoop to the Rescue is an absolutely amazing initiative developed by the Financial Coaches,” said Zamora. “Their timely proposal and support from the HCC Foundation positioned the institution to streamline disaster relief efforts and serve students in a meaningful, impactful way.”
Through their day-to-day work, the Financial Coaches are on the frontline surveying and addressing financial challenges that distract students from being able to focus on academic demands. They are seeing firsthand how Hurricane Harvey’s devastation is creating significant obstacles for students who are at different points in their academic journeys.
Excerpt from “Homeless And In College. Then Harvey Struck” featured on NPR September 15, 2017
Christina Broussard, 33, was trapped in her grandmother's living room for three days during Hurricane Harvey. Three years ago, around the time she first went back to school, she lost custody of her two daughters, because, she says, she couldn't provide a "stable living environment." While attending classes, she slept in bus shelters, or "nasty hotel rooms, when she could get $20 or $30." She's stayed with friends, her mother and her grandmother. Now, she says, her grandmother's house has been declared uninhabitable and it's unclear whether insurance will pay for any of it. They are staying temporarily at a hotel.
Excerpt from “Homeless And In College. Then Harvey Struck” featured on NPR September 15, 2017
Jimmieka Mills, 29, the editor-in-chief of the school paper, has homelessness as part of her life story — in her case, as a child and teen. She's now one class away from graduation and plans to transfer to Texas Southern University to finish her bachelor's, before pursuing a career working in nonprofits. Harvey's floodwaters took out her hot water heater, but FEMA denied request for aid.
The financial coaches resoundingly confirmed they are hearing heart wrenching stories of catastrophic loss from students who also possess an admirable resilience to still push through and succeed this semester. That’s what Swoop to the Rescue is designed to do – help our students push past the obstacles and continue working toward completion.
Moved to express how aid from HCC helped her stay in school, a recipient of “Swoop to the Rescue” recently sent a thoughtful email to Financial Coach Dominique Brown.
“I'm sad about what we lost, but I am glad God has blessed us with help from the school. Before Houston Community College helped us, I was down to my last $60 that I was going to use for food and gas to get to school. I'm still not out of the woods, but at least I'm stable enough to pay someone to let my family stay for a week. This will help me relax a little while I'm in school. I hope I'm able to go back home soon! I'm crying writing this email. Thank you for helping us. God bless you.”
For more information about the Financial Coaches and their Swoop to the Rescue initiative, please visit www.hccs.edu/fincoach.