“Every moment is an organizing opportunity, every person a potential activist, every minute a chance to change the world.” – Dolores Huerta
I am a proud Latina and a member of the Steering Committee for the Hispanic Impact Fund, a signature program of Austin Community Foundation (ACF). Recently, I had the privilege of attending a joint site visit with the Women’s Fund and Hispanic Impact Fund at Saint Louise House, a space created for women-led families overcoming violence, trauma, and housing insecurity.
Saint Louise House is a supportive housing community in Austin that provides affordable housing, two-generation support, and long-term, wraparound services to help women-led families heal, stabilize, and build economic and personal wellbeing.
Leading up to the site visit, I carried a blend of curiosity, respect, and caution—especially knowing the address of Saint Louise House is deliberately protected to uphold the safety of women and families rebuilding their lives after domestic violence. Long before walking through the doors, I knew I was entering a safe and sacred place, a community intentionally built with the wellbeing of women at the center.
The experience left me inspired in ways I’m still carrying with me. I was deeply moved, not because it was emotional, but because it was rooted in dignity, partnership, and hope. I was inspired by the stories the staff shared with us about the women and families, and the resilience, strength, and deep care they hold as they build their futures. However, the stark reality is that the immense needs means families face a 6-9 month waitlist for housing at Saint Louise House—months that represent mothers and children waiting for safety, stability, and the chance to move forward.
It was hard not to see myself and other women in my family in these stories, both in the resilience and care these women uphold every day, and in the barriers faced on the path to wellbeing. While I was deeply moved by the stories and tour, more than anything, I left Saint Louise House feeling activated because this all lands in an urgent moment. Housing instability is rising, and public systems and protections for women and children face increasing uncertainty. And while organizations like Saint Louise House are a lifeline and a pathway to upward mobility, housing waitlists represent hope that is just out of reach.
I am deeply grateful that ACF brought together the Hispanic Impact Fund and Women’s Fund for this experience and for making hope actionable through these investment opportunities. In a moment where so much feels uncertain, the need for community, care, and hope has never been more evident.
So let’s take Dolores Huerta seriously. Consider this your minute to organize impact alongside me and ACF. Share this story and the work of Saint Louise House with your network, consider investing in the Hispanic Impact Fund or Women’s Fund at ACF, or connect with me for a virtual or in-person coffee to learn more about ACF.
Your power to act starts now. Let’s make it count, together.
Kassi Longoria is a Hispanic Impact Fund Steering Committee member. She is also the CEO of MAYA Consulting.
