Originally from Honduras, Marlon Paz came to the United States at just one year old and later settled in Gulfport, Mississippi, after Hurricane Katrina. Homeownership had always been his dream, but as a Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipient, he faced significant obstacles securing a mortgage through traditional financing. DACA is a federal program that allows certain individuals brought to the United States as children to live and work legally through renewable protections. After learning he would need a much larger down payment, he paused his home search. Everything changed when a coworker introduced him to Hope Credit Union. After connecting with HOPE, Paz was quickly preapproved and resumed his search, eventually finding the home he had always envisioned. “There are so many people in a similar situation as me,” he says. “I’m grateful that HOPE opened the door for me.” Today, Paz’s story reflects how HOPE helps remove barriers to homeownership and expands access to opportunities for borrowers with unique circumstances.