July Newsletter
Reflecting on the month of July, Compass is proud to celebrate another month filled with success, growth, and meaningful moments. From educational cooking workshops and wellness seminars to community gatherings and creative activities, our residents continued to learn, connect, and thrive together. We are excited to share some of the highlights that made this month so memorable and look forward to creating even more opportunities to strengthen our communities in the months ahead.
As July marks the month leading up to the FUND Program's first anniversary, Compass is reflecting on the program's first year of impact. Through real-life resident data, we have gained five valuable lessons that continue to shape and strengthen our approach to serving our communities. These insights highlight the progress we've made and guide us as we look toward another successful year.
One of the biggest lessons we've learned is that budgeting is not the problem. A common misconception is that people who fall behind on rent simply don't know how to manage their money. However, 88% of our participating households are employed and are already doing everything they can to stretch their income, from shopping secondhand to skipping unnecessary expenses like takeout. The reality is that their cost of living and income are simply too close in value. Rather than looking for budgeting mistakes, creating a budget establishes a clear baseline of a household's financial situation, allowing us to better understand their needs and identify resources that can help.
Furthermore, we learned that prevention is one of the smartest investments we can make. Housing instability is costly for everyone involved. For families, it means not only the disruption of losing their home but also the emotional trauma that often follows. For affordable housing providers, it results in months of lost rental income while navigating a lengthy and costly eviction process. And for communities, households that lose their housing often require support from an already overwhelmed homelessness response system.
Through our FUND findings, we are able to reinforce what decades of research and real-world practice have consistently shown: providing fast, efficient financial assistance before an eviction occurs keeps people housed, strengthens communities, and ultimately saves money for everyone involved.
To learn more about these lessons, and the remaining three, be sure to check out Defining Affordable, our podcast's new Substack, Defining Affordable Podcast | Substack. Stay up to date with the latest FUND insights, podcast episodes, and conversations surrounding affordable housing.
Compass properties kicked off the month by celebrating America's 250th birthday with festive, patriotic-themed barbecues. Residents gathered together to enjoy delicious burgers, hot dogs, chips, sodas, and plenty of good company. The celebrations brought communities together, and we were thrilled to see such great turnouts across all of our properties!
This month, many of our ongoing programs continued to see great success! Ongoing programs help create a sense of routine for our residents, something that many look forward to each week. At The Helm, Coffee Friday continues to bring residents together, creating opportunities to build friendships, get to know their neighbors, and enjoy a delicious cup of coffee.
It wasn't just our adult residents strengthening connections this month, our younger residents were busy doing the same! The K.O.C. (Kids of Community) program at Alora & Estrella, along with the After School Program at Symphony, both saw an increase in participation. These programs give children the opportunity to build friendships, strengthen their social skills, and express their creativity. From designing their own board games to creating colorful abstract paintings, these programs continue to inspire learning, imagination, and community.
Furthermore, July at Compass featured several fun, healthy, and delicious cooking classes across our communities. At Orange Gardens, residents learned how to prepare a mouthwatering chicken stir-fry with jasmine rice, proving that cooking a healthy meal from scratch can be both easy and affordable. Meanwhile, Orchard residents gathered to make a delicious batch of Fresas con Crema using just five simple ingredients. These classes showed that healthy, homemade meals can be both simple and enjoyable to make together.
While nourishing yourself is one way to practice self-care, communities across Compass also highlighted other ways residents can care for themselves and those around them. At Iris, residents attended a Budgeting, Saving, & Setting Financial Goals workshop, where they learned practical financial skills and had the opportunity to ask questions. Meanwhile, Shoreline hosted a cozy Ladies' Night, giving women a chance to relax, connect, and enjoy activities like painting each other's nails while sipping tea. These programs reminded residents that wellness includes both financial confidence and meaningful social connections.
Continuing the summer fun from last month, Skyline hosted its very own Ice Cream Party, giving residents the perfect way to cool off on a hot summer day. Meanwhile, Studio 15 held a Resident Movie Break, where residents enjoyed a great film, tasty snacks, and time together in community. Even their furry friends joined in on the fun, with special treats provided just for them!
With these events, workshops, and milestones, Compass remains committed to its mission of diligently serving and strengthening our communities.