Hopelink invites you to join their next installment in this series. You do not need to have attended prior sessions to fully participate in this training. If you would like to review our prior trainings, see the recordings below.
The next installment in the series is titled Understanding Credit Reports and Scores, coming up on Wednesday, May 26 from 11am to Noon. Click here to register.
Financial Empowerment Series: Dealing with Debt
April 28, 2021
Presented by Hopelink.
Financial Empowerment Series: Getting Through the Month
February 26, 2021
Click Here to View Presentation Materials
Event Summary: The most recent workshop in our Financial Empowerment Training Series explored using cashflow budgeting to ensure the people you serve have the funds that they need at the time they need it. Static budgeting can leave households without needed income when bills come due. Thank you to the housing case management staff at Hopelink for helping us work through common scenario questions. If you plan to review the above recorded training materials, we encourage you to first examine this scenario question.
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. You can also read through all presentation materials here. If you have questions or wish to explore this content in more detail, please email your questions to Emily.
- Spending Tracker
- Bill Calendar
- Cutting Expenses
- Prioritizing Bills
- Creating a Cashflow Budget
- Improving your Cashflow
- Adjusting your Cashflow
Financial Empowerment Series: Tracking Income and Benefits
January 27, 2021
Click here to view presentation materials
Event Summary: The latest in our case manager training series explored how to help clients track multiple sources of income, such as earned income and public assistance programs. This training focused on how to help clients earn extra income while protecting their eligibility status for various state and federal assistance programs. We touched on how to track income and public benefits with an eye toward understanding garnishments and deductions, payment options, and how to increase net earnings.
Public Benefits Legal Assistance: Special thank you to Kate Means and Daniel Parker with Benefits Law Center for explaining how to help clients apply for SSI / SSDI and maintain their eligibility while seeking additional income. Benefits Law Center provides free and low-cost legal assistance to community members needing assistance with SSI / SSDI related issues. Check out their collection of self-help materials, and if you would like to refer someone you are working with call 206-686-7252 or submit your clients information using this online form.
Basic Needs Advocacy: Public assistance programs exist because working class coalitions asked and fought for them, making public benefit advocacy a key part of helping clients navigate these topics. Thank you to Lianna Kressin with Statewide Poverty Action Network for highlighting efforts to strengthen state assistance programs this legislative session. Check out the following resources to stay informed and get involved in their work:
- Updates through Network News
- Remote Session Advocacy Guide
- 2021 Poverty Action Fact Sheets and Policy Agenda
Workshop Materials: 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. You can also read through all presentation materials here. If you have questions or wish to explore this content in more detail, please email your questions to Jason.
- Income and Benefits Tracker
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Estimator
- Choosing How to get Paid
- Increasing Income and Benefits
- Legal information related to garnishment protections
Financial Empowerment Series: Saving
December 2, 2020
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
Financial Empowerment Series: Setting Goals
October 28, 2020
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.
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#
Financial Empowerment Series: How to Discuss Finances
September 30, 2020
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
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
Financial Empowerment Workshop
July 30, 2020
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