Dear Friends,
Every day at ECHOS, hope begins with a conversation. A parent looking for healthcare. A senior trying to stretch a fixed income. A family worried about keeping a roof over their heads. Because of you, those conversations become opportunities.
As we reach the midpoint of 2026, I want to thank you for standing with ECHOS. Rising costs and changing public benefit programs have made it harder for many families to meet their basic needs. Because of your generosity, they do not have to face those challenges alone.
When Susan came to ECHOS, she was asking for help putting food on the table after her work hours were reduced. As our staff listened to her story, they discovered she also qualified for healthcare coverage and needed assistance to remain stably housed. Susan left with more than an H-E-B food-only gift card. She left with access to healthcare, a plan for the future, and the reassurance that someone was walking beside her. (Name changed to protect client privacy.)
Susan’s story reflects what we see every day. Families rarely face just one challenge at a time, which is why ECHOS cares for the whole person.
During the first six months of 2026, we completed 1,203 healthcare and public benefits applications, provided 3,649 case management sessions, helped 581 households remain safely housed through financial assistance, and distributed food-only H-E-B gift cards to 3,302 individuals.
The outcomes are just as encouraging. Of the clients we reached after their benefits appointments, 84% were approved for the healthcare or public benefits they applied for. Even more encouraging, 84% of those approved told us they were using their healthcare benefits to see a doctor or receive medical care, improving their health and helping prevent unnecessary emergency room visits.
Every person who walks through our doors is welcomed with dignity and respect. We know asking for help is not easy, so we take the time to listen, understand each family’s circumstances, and walk beside them with compassion.
None of this happens without you. Because of your faithful support, families find more than assistance at ECHOS. They find hope, encouragement, and a path forward. Thank you for believing that every neighbor deserves the opportunity to live with dignity, health, and hope.
With gratitude,
Cathy Moore
Executive Director, ECHOS
Meeting Needs. Transforming Lives.
