By Cathy Moore, Executive Director & Maricela Delcid, Benefits Assistance Team Leader
Epiphany Community Health Outreach Services (ECHOS) in Houston
Five years ago, Veronica faced the kind of heartbreak no mother can prepare for. She went into labor just 22 weeks into her pregnancy with twin boys. Doctors told her neither baby would survive. Then a glimmer of hope appeared. One tiny heartbeat refused to give up. She named him Angel.
Born far too early, Angel’s fight for life was only the beginning. Now five years old, he continues to face medical challenges: severe asthma, developmental delays, and vision impairments. Each morning, Veronica helps him get dressed, move, and prepare for his day. It takes patience, strength, and a mother’s love that doesn’t quit.
How ECHOS helped
For families like Veronica’s, survival isn’t just about medicine—it’s about stability. Medicaid has covered Angel’s ongoing care since birth, but when food insecurity hit, ECHOS became their lifeline.
When her SNAP benefits were denied due to a paperwork issue, Veronica came to ECHOS for help. Our case managers resubmitted her application and provided food-only gift cards to keep her family fed while she waited for a decision. Each month, she visits ECHOS for guidance, resources, and reassurance that she’s not alone in this journey.
Strength through partnership
Veronica and her husband have built their family’s rhythm around Angel’s care. She works nights so she can be home during the day; he works mornings and takes over in the afternoons. Together they’re raising three children with grace, determination, and faith. And standing beside them is ECHOS to help hold everything together when systems fail, deadlines loom, and the needs seem endless.
Why this matters
Veronica’s story is more than one family’s struggle; it’s a reflection of what ECHOS does best—helping families stay stable, strong, and together. Through benefits assistance, food support, and compassionate care, ECHOS gives parents like Veronica the space to breathe and the strength to keep going. Angel’s name says it all—he’s a living reminder that miracles happen when families have support. And thanks to partners and donors who sustain our work, ECHOS will continue to be there for every parent fighting to keep their family whole.
About ECHOS
ECHOS (Epiphany Community Health Outreach Services) began in 2001 out of a deep concern for families in need in Houston’s Southwest community. Since then, ECHOS has walked alongside individuals and families, helping them meet their basic needs and take steps toward self-sufficiency and financial stability.
ECHOS believes everyone deserves a fair chance at a healthy life—which is why the organization works to ensure people can access the healthcare and social services they are eligible for, with dignity, compassion, and respect. At the core of our mission is a commitment to addressing the non-medical drivers of health—like healthcare access, housing, food, and other social services—that impact overall well-being.
ECHOS is a long-time grantee of Episcopal Health Foundation.
EHF’s latest grant investment of $600,000 was for the organization’s work to assist low-income individuals and families by educating, qualifying, and enrolling them in health-related benefits and then following up to ensure they were able to use those benefits.