Usually, blogs are supposed to be the original material of the author. I thought I would be like a small town newspaper and reprint a press release. This came from the city and I do not recall hearing about this in the media, but this seems to be a good program at face value.
If you know someone who is deeply affected financially by the pandemic, feel free to share it.
Here is the link to see it as a webpage https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/KYLOUISVILLE/bulletins/2ad83f3 Debbie Belt, 574-6587 / 303-6167 Debbie.Belt@louisvilleky.gov City partners with LHOME to launch
a free financial navigator service to help Louisville residents impacted
by pandemic LOUISVILLE, KY (November 23, 2020)
- In partnership with national nonprofit organization the Cities for
Financial Empowerment Fund (CFE Fund), Louisville Metro Government announced
today the launch of a free Financial Navigators program to help
residents navigate critical financial issues related to the COVID-19
pandemic. Financial Navigators will be
available remotely starting Nov. 23 to provide guidance over the phone to help
residents access available programs and services to manage income
disruptions and other financial concerns. These
experts help residents one-on-one to triage personal financial issues, identify immediate
action steps to manage expenses and maximize income, and
make referrals to other relevant community resources such as the
Eviction Prevention Program, LIHEAP, Healthy at Home, etc. Louisville Metro
Government and Bank On Louisville will offer these services in
partnership with Louisville Housing and Opportunities Micro-Enterprise
Community Development Loan Fund, Inc. (LHOME). “Helping residents who are facing financial challenges due to COVID-19 is a critical part of the city’s frontline
response and recovery efforts,” said Mayor Greg Fischer. “The city is
proud to partner with LHOME to provide this free public service for all of
our residents.” Residents can access these free, remote services by completing the online form here or calling (502)
657-6624 to sign up. The navigator will then send a short service
agreement and call the client to begin their personal session. Organizations across Louisville
can also refer clients directly to an expert. Each session will last approximately 30 minutes. After the session, the Financial Navigator will send a follow-up
email outlining next steps and referrals. “During these uncertain times, it is critical that our residents access vital financial resources,” said Amy
Shir, President and CEO of LHOME, a local Community Development
Financial Institution (CDFI) and administrator of the Financial
Navigator Program. “We encourage anyone concerned about paying bills, facing
possible evictions or utility shut-offs, or with questions about
accessing public benefits to call our hotline at (502) 657-6624. Our
Financial Navigators are compassionate and trained to listen to callers
and provide useful information.” Louisville was one of more than 30
cities and counties across the nation awarded an $80,000 grant by CFE
Fund to launch the Financial Navigators initiative, which also
includes technical assistance and training. The Financial Navigators
initiative is supported by Bloomberg Philanthropies, the Citi
Foundation, JPMorgan Chase & Co., and the Wells Fargo Foundation. “Financial distress is a primary
part of the COVID-19 crisis, and we’re pleased Mayor Fischer and his team
are making this a priority for Louisville residents,” said
Jonathan Mintz, President and CEO of the CFE Fund. “The Financial Navigators
program will help Louisville residents assess and prioritize their
financial concerns and get connected with the right resources.” “The pandemic and resulting
economic crises have hit low- and middle -income households, contingent and
undocumented workers, and many others very hard,” said James
Anderson, Head of Government Innovation at Bloomberg
Philanthropies. “We are very pleased to help the CFE Fund expand its high
quality and impactful financial empowerment services to reach many
more people in more cities.” “Sound financial health is a
critical component of addressing the impact of the COVID-19 crisis on
low-income and diverse communities in the U.S,” said Sarah Bainton Kahn, VP of Global
Philanthropy, JPMorgan Chase & Co. “We are pleased to
collaborate with the CFE Fund to help people in Louisville to access the
tools and services they need to build resiliency and advance their
financial health.” “Communities across the country
continue to face significant economic challenges as a result of
COVID-19,” said Brandee McHale, Head of Citi Community Investing and
Development and President of the Citi Foundation. “To provide residents
in Louisville with the vital financial tools and support necessary to
navigate the financial impacts of the pandemic, the Citi Foundation is
proud to partner once again with the Cities for Financial Empowerment
Fund to launch the Financial Navigators program.” “The pandemic has clearly
heightened awareness around the financial hardships that so many people were
already facing here in Louisville and deep disparities that exist in
society,” said Darlene Goins, Head of financial philanthropy with the
Wells Fargo Foundation. “We applaud the CFE Fund for bringing together
the city of Louisville, philanthropists, and financial services and other
industries to reimagine solutions that can help improve financial
stability and resiliency for individuals and families, particularly during this
economic crisis.” About Bank On Louisville Launched in 2010, Bank On
Louisville is a collaborative partnership between local government,
financial institutions and community organizations that work to improve
the financial stability of unbanked and underbanked residents in our
Louisville community. To date, Bank On Louisville has helped connect
more than 47,000 residents to safe and affordable bank accounts and
connected more than 26,500 residents to quality financial
education. In 2020, Bank On Louisville is proud to celebrate 10 years of
connecting residents to Louisville’s safest accounts. Visit
www.bankonlouisville.org for more information. About LHOME LHOME stands for The Louisville
Housing Opportunities and Micro Enterprise Community Development
Loan Fund, Inc. and is an intentionally inclusive CDFI
focused on serving community members and small business owners in
Louisville’s low-moderate income neighborhoods. LHOME is committed
to combating historic redlining and institutional racism by promoting
ownership through accessible, affordable loan products and
financial coaching services to its clients, most of whom are people of color
living and/or working in West and South Louisville neighborhoods.
Visit https://www.lhomeky.org/ or email info@lhomeky.org for more
information. About the Cities for Financial
Empowerment Fund (CFE Fund) The CFE Fund supports municipal
efforts to improve the financial stability of households by
leveraging opportunities unique to local government. By translating cutting
edge experience with large scale programs, research, and policy in
cities of all sizes, the CFE Fund assists mayors and other local leaders to
identify, develop, fund, implement, and research pilots and programs that help
families build assets and make the most of their financial
resources. The CFE Fund is currently working in over 100 cities and has
disbursed over $43 million to city governments and their partners to
support these efforts. For more information, please visit
www.cfefund.org or follow us on Twitter at @CFEFund. |