Did you know that Wisconsin has the third largest Hmong population in the U.S.? In honor of Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, we are highlighting two FCI borrowers: the Hmong American Women’s Association (HAWA) and the Eau Claire Area Hmong Mutual Assistance Association, Inc (ECAHMAA).
HAWA: Empowering Generations
HAWA is a non-profit organization that was founded in 1993 by a group of 13 community women with a strong passion to advocate, organize, and share the concerns they saw being experienced by women in the larger Hmong community. HAWA was created to provide social services support, health education, literacy development and cultural enrichment programs to Hmong women, as well as other Southeast Asian women, girls, queer, and trans community members and their families within the Milwaukee area.
This safe haven is located at 3030 W. Highland Blvd in Milwaukee. After over 25 years of leadership in the Hmong community, the purchase of this building was a historic moment for the organization. In addition to providing a space of protection, HAWA has also created two important services: the 24/7 Hmong Family Strengthening Helpline and the Community Closet. The helpline provides support and referrals to anyone within Wisconsin who is experiencing violence and abuse, and the Community Closet provides low-income families with clothing and household needs to support the livelihood of families in the Southeast Asian community.
HAWA continues to inspire and foster Hmong women leaders who have made enormous contributions to the Hmong community – not only in Milwaukee, but in Wisconsin, across the country, and around the world.
ECAHMAA: Advocating for Communities
The Eau Claire Area Hmong Mutual Assistance Association, Inc. (ECAHMAA) was established in 1982 with a mission to empower and enhance the quality of life for Chippewa Valley Hmong-American communities. Since its inception, ECAHMAA has seen the Hmong population in the City of Eau Claire grow to over 3,000, making it the largest minority group in the area. For over four decades, ECAHMAA has provided essential services including housing access, healthcare, career development, employment and educational opportunities, and victim advocacy.
ECAHMAA operates 15 affordable housing units, acquired through grants from the Eau Claire Housing Authority, donations, or nonprofit lenders. Families enrolled in their affordable housing program may also benefit from additional services, including home ownership preparedness, employment assistance, and access to the Rice Pantry, ECAHMAA’s food pantry.
ECAHMAA consistently offers a supportive environment and a helping hand across Eau Claire communities. Through its extensive support services and family programs, ECAHMAA continues to make a lasting impact for generations to come.
Working Together to Fight for the Common Good
FCI’s aims to infuse capital into economically underserved communities and neighborhoods using a variety of lending tools. In addition to FCI’s standard nonprofit facility financing leveraged by HAWA and ECAHMAA, FCI also offers other tools for financing deals.
- FCI’s New Markets Tax Credits program (NMTC) lending program allows us to finance high-cost, socially-impactful projects via low-cost, low-interest loans with flexible terms and interest-only payments.
- Our Diversity in Real Estate programs provide lending and tailored support to emerging and diverse developers across Wisconsin.
- Our strategic partnerships help infuse funding into mission-aligned projects in specific geographies throughout the state.
Read more on the types of organizations FCI supports through lending and learn how to become an FCI borrower. Or consider investing or donating and become a vital part of driving our vision and mission Forward.
