The Economic Council Helping Others Inc., dba ECHO Inc. has been incorporated since 1967 as a 501-c-3 non-profit. This "Community Action Agency-(CAA)" administers numerous programs throughout the northern half of New Mexico.
Former Secretary of the NM Human Services Department, Pamela Hyde, very aptly described these types of organizations. "Community Action Agencies work hard in our state to help reduce the impact of poverty and we are proud to serve with them in this effort. Paramount to their success, I believe, is their ability to accurately assess the needs of each community and then use their flexibility to build a range of services specific to each group of people served, which may include food, affordable housing, pre-schools and assistance with emergencies."
ECHO Inc. currently provides a varied assortment of food programs throughout the northern half of New Mexico. These services range from USDA Commodity Food Programs to individual emergency assistance-including a kid's elementary school backpack program, to being the food bank for other non-profit organizations feeding hungry and/or displaced individuals.
ECHO Inc. operates both a pre-school and separate latch-key programs based in Aztec. The sliding fee scale makes both of these programs very attractive to hard working families living on "shoe-string" budgets.
ECHO Inc., through ECHO Construction, has initiated the only workforce housing program in San Juan County. The program assists working families who qualify for low-interest USDA mortgages; taking the family through the process of education in home ownership, financial counseling, and through the construction of a home of their own.
ECHO Inc. assists individuals with emergency situations. This assistance may take various forms ranging from case management to actual financial help with rent, medical bills, prescriptions, etc.