HOPE Inside Disaster coach Andrew Avina has been working with Los Angeles fire survivors for over a year now as a part of Project Restore HOPE – Los Angeles.

He recently received the following letter of gratitude from a client that he has worked with for almost the entire year. Together, they turned many obstacles into successes, including moving her FEMA case forward when other support groups ran into issues; securing grants, rent support, utilities, and grocery coverage through partnership organizations like the Red Cross and Salvation Army; as well as a most recent $500 gift card from Vida Mobile Clinic.

She wrote:

“It was really humbling for me to be on the other side of the desk after the fires. As a social worker, I’m usually the one helping people, and it’s hard for me to ask for help. The fires affected our income, place to live, and devastated us financially—so much so that I needed to learn to ask for help.

The day I had to walk into the WIC/food stamp office was so emotional, with tears of embarrassment and humility that it had come to this point—that we couldn’t do it alone any longer, could no longer support our two kids under the age of 3 at the time. It was loss after loss, and we thought we were going to be able to return home and kept paying rent for an apartment we couldn’t live in due to smoke damage. After we received a report that our entire apartment had high amounts of lead and other heavy metals, FEMA declared our place not safe to live, and our landlord stopped responding about remediating the apartment, we made the difficult decision to move to Nashville to start over.

It was right in the middle of all this that I went to the Disaster Recovery Center in Altadena and met Andrew at the Operation HOPE table. It meant so much to talk to an actual human and schedule a time to meet with him virtually. He remembered my name and story. We set up times to meet, and honestly, he and a few others are the ones that have kept me moving forward in recovery.

I really appreciated how Andrew would listen to my issues without judgment and with a massive amount of empathy. But it wasn’t just the listening ear—it was his actionable steps—how he actually had great connections in places that I needed help with. We would talk about an issue, and he would send an email DURING our meeting to a person who could make a difference. I left our meetings feeling like my family was being advocated for and that things were being accomplished, rather than hitting my head against the wall with no after no.

I met with him from all sorts of locations (garage, car, coffee shops, playgrounds, living room, etc.), all while trying to keep talking while kids needed my attention at the same time. I’m super thankful we can meet remotely!

Another thing I appreciate is that it is a holistic approach, focused on not just FEMA but also getting the right info for insurance claims, resources for legal and government services too. He was also able to inform me about small business coaching through Operation HOPE, and my husband was able to take advantage of this resource!”

For more information: OperationHOPE.org. Follow the HOPE conversation on Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn.

The post Turning Obstacles into Success through Advocacy, Empathy, and Action appeared first on Operation HOPE.

But behind the polished image, Marvetta was quietly unraveling.

“I was slowly crumbling inside,” she shared. “On the outside, I’m helping everybody else and making sure they’re okay—but I had suffered a huge financial loss after the pandemic.”

Like so many Americans, Marvetta’s life was upended by COVID. She became severely ill, was hospitalized, and faced mounting medical bills alongside time away from work. The struggle felt especially isolating because of her profession. In real estate—an industry where image is everything—there’s little room for vulnerability. “People look at you and think you have it all together,” she explained. “But when you suffer in silence, anxiety comes. Depression comes. Marital issues come. All kinds of things happen because you don’t want to speak up.”

Marvetta first encountered Operation HOPE through her professional work. As president of the Empire Board of Realtists, she met members of the HOPE team while exploring a future collaboration to help prepare first-time homebuyers. Curious, she began digging deeper into the organization—and into the work of its founder, John Hope Bryant.

What began as research quickly became personal.

She started listening to Bryant’s podcasts, journaling, signing up for classes, and reading his books. One line from The Memo stopped her cold: The most dangerous person in the world is a person with no hope. “That hit me to my core,” she said. “Because that’s how I felt—like my hope was gone because of my finances.”

For Marvetta, that renewal meant letting go of the image she felt pressured to maintain and being honest about where she really was. “You have to break some things off,” she explained. “Some habits, some ways of thinking, even some relationships. But once you do, you can fly again.”

Through Operation HOPE’s emphasis on mindset, she began to reframe what wealth truly meant. “He talks about how wealth isn’t just in your wallet,” she said. “It’s your mind, your relationships, your skill set. And I realized—I have an abundance of wealth.”

In that shift, Marvetta began to see her setback not as the end of her story, but as a moment to reset and rebuild. That realization was transformative. “I’m so thankful,” she shared. “Those resources put me back on a path. I’m learning every day now. My mindset is wealthy.”

Marvetta eventually met John Hope Bryant in person at a gala where she honored him before more than 500 members of her organization. When she thanked him for saving her, his response reframed everything: “No—you saved you.”

“That moment stayed with me,” she said. “I am totally the driver now. I control my mindset. I’ve dealt with imposter syndrome, but that’s buried. When you top this mindset off with my skill set—I’m unstoppable.”

Today, Marvetta is ready for the next chapter. While many Operation HOPE clients begin their journey with a coach, hers started with self-work—mindset, courage, and vulnerability. Now, she’s starting her work with a Financial Wellbeing Coach to tackle the tactical steps: managing debt, rebuilding her credit, and creating a diversified financial plan that can withstand the ups and downs of a commission-based industry.

“I want a roadmap,” she said. “What do I do first, second, and third? How do I rebuild—and how do I make sure I’m prepared so this never happens again?”

Perhaps most importantly, Marvetta is no longer hiding. “I feel comfortable now,” she said. “I can take the mask off. I feel good. I’m on the journey.”

Her story is a reminder that setbacks can happen to anyone—no matter how educated, accomplished, or successful they appear. What matters is the willingness to be honest with yourself and ask for help.

For more information: OperationHOPE.org. Follow the HOPE conversation on Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn.

The post Finding HOPE, Mindset, and the Courage to Begin Again appeared first on Operation HOPE.

It was serendipitous that Michael met with one of Operation HOPE’s Financial Wellbeing Coaches, Marcus Purnell, more than a year before the company underwent corporate restructuring. At the time, Marcus was a coach for the HOPE Inside the Workplace program at UPS and guided employees with credit and money management – now he serves a larger market as a Financial Disaster Preparedness and Recovery Coach funded by the UPS Foundation.  

“Operation HOPE actually had a location in the headquarters of my employer,” recalled Michael. “I came down there initially looking for some financial budgeting guidance as I really wanted to know how to boost my credit score and eventually buy a home. And it just blossomed from there—from an amazing partnership and just so many resources and help.” 

The convenience of having Operation HOPE on-site meant Michael could meet with Marcus during lunch breaks. “It was just an excellent setup where I could get all the information and knowledge I needed in a very convenient way,” he said.  

When Michael first met Marcus, he was stuck in the cycle of opening new credit cards to pay off old debt. “I was avid about opening up a new credit card to pay existing debt… robbing Peter to pay Paul,” Michael shared. 

Marcus challenged him to stop that pattern and instead use a “snowballing” strategy to reduce debt. They started to attack the cards with the highest credit limits and interest rates and then when they were paid off, start the process again with the next credit card. 

Marcus also encouraged Michael to reach out to credit card companies to ask about their hardship programs. “A lot of people don’t know that most credit card companies have programs to help you stop the debt from accumulating.” 

One of the most significant shifts in Michael’s financial mindset came when Marcus helped him analyze his expenses. “I had a 2019 green Dodge Challenger. It was beautiful… but it was expensive. One of the things that we talked about in order to get my budget under control was to take a deep dive in my expenses. And that was an expense that I could let go.” 

Michael traded the car in, bought a 2019 Kia Optima with cash, and freed up $700 a month to put towards paying off debt. “It was a financial win that still resonates to this day because I still have that car and I’ll ride it until the wheels fall off.” 

Michael’s financial decisions were about to pay off again when his employer announced a restructuring that eliminated his job position. Already on the path to reducing debt and building a nest egg, Michael was prepared to navigate this unexpected career change without panic. “While I actually found another job not too long after, I wasn’t stressing and thinking ‘money, money, money’ first. It was like, ‘okay, where does the opportunity and money align rather than, oh, it has to be all about the finances.’” 

Michael credits Marcus’s mentorship style as a key reason he stayed committed. “Marcus really did care—not just my finances, but everything I was doing in my life,” he said. As for Marcus, he is thrilled that Michael sought out this opportunity proactively. “Michael proved that financial coaching is not a last resort, but a first choice for anyone serious about long-term success!” 

Today, Michael owns a home, runs a thriving career support business, and continues to recommend Marcus to others. “Whenever somebody has an issue when it comes to credit or buying a home, I’m like, ‘I got a guy.’” 

Michael believes that for mentorship to be effective, it’s important to trust the process and know that the difficult decisions you’re making now can lead to positive outcomes in the long term. “Everything we did—the debt payoff, the budgeting, the savings—prepared me for where I am now. I wouldn’t be here without Operation HOPE, Marcus, and my company that connected me to the program in the first place,” he said. 

For more information: OperationHOPE.org. Follow the HOPE conversation on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn. 

The post Rehearse Your Disasters, Build Your Dreams: Michael’s Story of Financial Freedom  appeared first on Operation HOPE.

However, I realized I needed to focus more on the disaster relief part of what I love to do and build that into my business.

Now, in addition to dog training and behavior consulting, I do animal search and rescue, so I’m out there in the front line. I’ve been able to help in three disasters in the past year.

This whole other part of me has developed. I’ve made so many connections, not just here but around the country, and I’m partnering with different nonprofits to be able to go into disaster zones and help, whether boots on the ground or remotely.

This is my calling—the disaster relief part is one of the most fulfilling things I’ve ever experienced in my life.”

To learn more about the HOPE Inside Disaster Program and other resources: OperationHOPE.org. Follow the HOPE conversation on X, Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn.

The post Surviving Disaster Led to a New “Calling” for Jaime’s Business appeared first on Operation HOPE.

“I want people to know that Operation HOPE is a literal godsend, and I’m not being metaphorical here,” said Alisha Das after working with an Operation HOPE Disaster Recovery Coach for five months. “I truly think it is divinely ordained. It absolutely lives up to its name. I want people to know that there is support that has no agenda, but to help.”

In the Palisades Fire, one of a series that burned through Southern California in January and the most destructive to ever occur in the City of Los Angeles, Alisha found that her home was still standing but inhabitable.  Her house had severe smoke damage and was found to contain high levels of lead, asbestos, and other hazardous materials. Due to a previous life-threatening exposure, she has a medically-documented sensitivity to lead, making remediation—the process of making the property safe and habitable again—both urgent and highly sensitive.

Alisha shared, “my original goal was to get back in my home and do so in a way that did not financially break my family. The hardships I faced were, of course, losing my city of Pacific Palisades and being displaced from my home and moving to six different locations in five months. Also, I felt completely overwhelmed by the insurance and FEMA process.”

Once Alisha met Coach Andrew Avina at the Palisades Muli-Agency Resource Center, she realized she was no longer alone on this path. Andrew explained, “disaster disrupts more than just physical possessions; it unsettles the financial stability and systems people depend on. My mission is to help survivors regain control and confidence, transforming uncertainty into actionable steps toward a stronger, more resilient future.”

Together, they evaluated each stage of Alisha’ recovery process. “From the beginning, her recovery was challenged by a stalled insurance process and lack of responsiveness from her adjuster, which later disrupted her FEMA case,” Andrew said. “Many available resources, including rental assistance and case management, were not accessible to her due to location eligibility.”

After unsuccessfully working through the insurance claims with a public adjuster and later with a law firm, they chose a different strategy. They determined that self-advocacy was the best course, and with Andrew’s continued support, Alisha successfully negotiated the release of remediation funds.

From there, they jointly vetted several remediation contractors, reviewing associated costs per service description and confirming whether the scope of work reflected heavy remediation, rather than just “light” or superficial services. They ensured contractors understood her unique health considerations and carried sufficient overhead to mitigate any potential damages during the work.

Their detailed comparisons paid off—literally. Alisha saved over $120,000 with the contractor they selected together, compared to the others that inflated costs. “I define success in this story of feeling incredibly supported and moving things forward that would’ve been almost impossible by myself, like FEMA applications and deadlines, remediation experts, and learning about resources,” she shared.

“The insight I have received is that truly we are not alone if we have Operation HOPE. I have referred them to so many friends and neighbors. People think that only a certain demographic needs help, and that is not true. People are people and Operation HOPE treats all of us equally. It’s a beautiful inspiration and reflection for the world.”

Alisha is a highly respected spiritual leader and humanitarian, with an international nonprofit working in the Congo, Ghana, and other African countries to implement solar power and clean water systems for underserved communities. Therefore, once Alisha completed this milestone to returning home, Andrew connected her with his colleague, Small Business Coach Christopher Santiago, for business recovery support.

Reflecting on her experience, Alisha shared, “this has changed my mindset towards finance and helped me see that I really can survive and even thrive as a single mother after the fires. My life is different now in that I feel that much of the trauma from the fires has abated. I feel more sovereign and that I have more agency over my business, and most of all, I feel supported.”

With hope and a path forward, Alisha is “looking forward to one day living back in the Palisades in a way that is healthy and triumphant.”

To learn more about the HOPE Inside Disaster Program and other resources: OperationHOPE.org. Follow the HOPE conversation on X, Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn.  

The post In The City of Angels, Alisha Finds a ‘Divinely Ordained’ Path to Rebuild appeared first on Operation HOPE.

As a Disaster Operations Coach and Coordinator in Los Angeles, Andrew’s job is to spread awareness of the disaster relief that Operation HOPE offers and support clients with coaching and resources.  And he’s been busy!  Just last week, Andrew:

• Conducted 18 individual coaching sessions 
• Assisted 8 clients with FEMA appeals, 3 clients with insurance claim or mortgage-related support, and 1 client with a smoke remediation contract estimate 
• Registered 4 new clients and referred 4 others to additional support services 
• Connected 4 clients with housing referrals

He also attended 7 key partner meetings/events and initiated partnership conversations with 12 local and national organizations.

When asked why he does this work, Andrew said, “disaster disrupts more than just physical possessions; it unsettles the financial stability and systems people depend on. Before joining Operation HOPE, I worked as a consultant helping general contractors strengthen their businesses. Now, I support small business recovery and assist survivors in rebuilding solid financial foundations through personalized counseling and resource navigation. My mission is to help survivors regain control and confidence, transforming uncertainty into actionable steps toward a stronger, more resilient future.”

Niki, a Disaster Operations Coach and Coordinator in Los Angeles, helps survivors with small businesses to understand their options and resources to rebuild.  At the beginning of this month, she represented Operation HOPE at a Small Business Forum called Advancing Small Business Resiliency and Strength. 

She reported that the event was a success, featuring over 40 exhibitors including Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs), credit unions, and nonprofits supporting small businesses with disaster recovery needs. In addition to speaking on a panel and gathering resources for her clients, she networked with over 20 small business owners as well as several organizations that are interested in future partnerships. 

When asked why she does this work, Niki said, “I believe in the strength of the LA community and the resilience of small business owners here. With my banking background, I know how important it is to have access to resources and financial stability. Being able to help entrepreneurs get back on their feet and rebuild their businesses honestly gives me such a sense of purpose.”

The post Project Restore HOPE LA: Coach Stories appeared first on Operation HOPE.

 Operation HOPE really does provide hope for individuals or families struggling. I admit I was doubtful that we would get the help, but I was definitely wrong. I truly appreciate this organization and AirBnB.org. I have a sense of peace moving forward.

Mahalo for coming to Maui to offer your kokua. 

Kind Regards, 

S&J”

The post Sharing Mahalo from Maui appeared first on Operation HOPE.

In 2018, James Konidis, an LBGTQ creative launched his first business, James Kreate, a lifestyle and home decor company. James was happy to earn a living and make money from following his artistic passions, but things began to shift when the pandemic hit early last year. Desperate to receive a PPP loan, James connected with Operation HOPE to get expert advice on if he met the qualifications, what documents and information he needed to gather, and how to apply. When he met his financial wellbeing coach Blake, everything began to change.

Blake gave him all the knowledge and tools he needed to get his business funded with the government-backed PPP loan which was instrumental in helping James not only keep his business afloat, but growing and expanding, even in the middle of a global crisis. James discovered that Blake offered more than just PPP guidance, he could also help him build and establish his personal credit to help fund his personal dreams and goals. Blake gave him an easy-to-follow and easy-to-understand plan to help build his credit profile which he happily began executing.

To make good matters great, Blake followed up with James and encouraged him to take advantage of yet another opportunity that could help him take his business to the next level. Blake explained the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) to James and guided him through the process. Three weeks later, James received a call that his application was processed and approved for a $15,000 grant to help support his small business.

Today, James is more confident as a business owner and in great financial position to take his business dreams to the next level.

The post James Takes Pandemic Calamity and “Kreates” an Opportunity to Grow His Small Business Dreams appeared first on Operation HOPE.