Click here to Register for Financial Empowerment Training Series: Tracking Income and Benefits on Wednesday, January 27 at 11am
The Coalition on Homelessness in partnership with Hopelink are offering a series of monthly mini-trainings to explore the Your Money, Your Goals (YMYG) toolkit. We plan to take a closer look at topics such as how to discuss finances, setting financial goals, earning income while maintaining public benefit eligibility and dynamic budgeting. This series will create space for direct service providers to share experiences using the Toolkit with those they serve.
Financial Empowerment Series Pt III: Saving
Part three of our training series explored savings plans and how to navigate public benefit eligibility and tax filing while saving for future goals. Thank you to special guest Hannah Rosenberger with Solid Ground Public Benefits Assistance Program for explaining asset limits and how to save while maintaining eligibility for cash and food assistance programs. If you or someone you work needs legal guidance related to a public benefits issue, they can reach out to benefitslegalhelp@solid-ground.org or call 206-694-6742 for an intake.
Click here to review asset limits in detail.
Below are links to all the materials referenced in the workshop. We encourage you to refer to these as you watch the video and pause to explore each tool at your own pace. If you have questions or wish to explore this content in more detail, please email your questions to Jason.
- Asset limits for Public Benefit Programs
- Creating a Savings Plan
- Finding a place for savings
- Saving at Tax Time and Local Tax Filing Assistance
- As well as how to set up S.M.A.R.T. Goals for Tax Season
Join us on Wednesday January 27 at 11am for the next training in this series: Tracking Income and Benefits. Click here to register.
Financial Empowerment Series Pt II: Setting Goals
We hosted the second installment in our Financial Empowerment Training Series on Wednesday, October 28. Part two explored tools to help your clients set goals, breaking down their financial objectives into achievable tasks. A huge thank you to Emily Goodright, Joy Horbochuk, Anna Austing and Jacinta Matthews from Hopelink for reviewing these tools with us.
Below are links to all the materials referenced in the workshop. We encourage you to refer to these as you watch the video and pause to explore each tool at your own pace. If you have questions or wish to explore this content in more detail, please email your questions to Jason.
Annual Subsidized Pass Pilot: Sound Transit and King County Metro are launching a pilot program to provide ORCA cards to low income King County residents. The Annual Subsidized Pass functions like an ORCA LIFT card that can be offered free of charge. This pass will be available to residents of King, Pierce and Snohomish County whose income is at or below 80 percent of the Federal Poverty Limit and who qualify for specific state and federal public benefit programs. This pilot will be administered by Catholic Community Services, Seattle / King County Public Health Department and the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS). Click here for more information.
Join us on Wednesday December 2 at 11am for Part Three in this Series: Saving.
- No training in November due to holidays
- December 2, 2020: Saving
- January 27, 2021: Tracking income& benefits
Financial Empowerment Training Series Pt I: How to Discuss Finances
We hosted the first installment in our Financial Empowerment Training Series on Wednesday, September 30. Presented in partnership with Hopelink, this one-hour workshop provided an introduction to the Your Money / Your Goals toolkit and how to apply its principles to homeless service work. A huge thank you to Emily Goodright, Joy Horbochuk and Anna Austing from Hopelink for reviewing the toolkit and sharing insights on how to have client-centered, culturally appropriate conversations about finances with those you serve.
Below are links to all the tools referenced in the workshop. We encourage you to refer to these as you watch the video and pause to explore each tool at your own pace. If you have questions or wish to explore this content in more detail, please email your questions to Jason.
- Financial Empowerment Self-Assessment
- My Money Picture
- Step by Step Guide to Economic Impact Payments and This One Page Fact Sheet
For additional information on stimulus checks, check out this training video. The CFPB is also offering virtual drop-in office hours so you can ask an expert your questions, every Wednesday at 11:30 until November 18. Click here to attend, or dial in using +1 571-348-5774, Conference ID: 503 140 753#
Join us on Wednesday October 28 at 11am for Part Two in this Series: Setting Goals.
- October 28, 2020: Setting Goals
- No training in November due to holidays
- December 2, 2020: Saving
- January 27, 2021: Tracking income& benefits
July 30 2020 Financial Empowerment Workshop
Click Here to Review the PowerPoint Slides Used in the Above Video
We hosted the latest in our Case Manager Training Series titled Financial Empowerment: Tools for Homeless Service Providers. Presented in partnership with Hopelink, this two-hour workshop gave an overview of the Your Money / Your Goals toolkit and how to apply its principles to homeless service work. A huge thank you to Donna O’Connor, Emily Goodright, and Joy Horbochuk from Hopelink for reviewing the toolkit and sharing their insights on how they have been using these tools in their case management work.
Below is an outline of the training with links to all the tools referenced in the workshop. We encourage you to refer to this outline as you watch the video and pause the video to explore each tool at your own pace. If you have questions or wish to explore this content in more detail, please email your questions to Jason.
Opening Activity
- Self-Assessment Tool developed by Case Management Team
- Orientation to the Your Money / Your Goals Toolkit
Module 3 : Tracking income & benefits
- Know what is coming in
- Protecting money on your prepaid card
- Garnishments and offsets
Module 4 and 5: Paying Bills and Getting Through the Month
Module 7: Understanding Credit Reports and Scores
- Requesting your free credit report
- Reviewing your credit report
- Ordering and Reviewing Criminal Background Report
Additional Tools and Community Resources
- Your Money / Your Goals Supplemental Booklets
- Tips for Opening a Checking Account
- Economic Impact Payments, aka Stimulus Checks
- Other resources, including changes to state benefit programs, discounted telephone service and Pandemic EBT Benefits.
Hosted on 07/30/2020