SEMI-ANNUAL GRANT REPORT NO. 4 (July 1 - DECEMBER 31, 2017)

Community Development Corporation of Brownsville (CDCB)

Reporting Period Update (July 1, 2017 – December 31, 2017)

Program Activities

• Program was completed on December 31, 2016

Upcoming Activities

• The program has secured additional funding sources and will continue providing financial literacy classes

Easter Seals of Greater Houston provides first-time financial coaching, homebuyer education and homebuyer programs for people with all types of disabilities, and meet low-income guidelines. The program aims to improve the community by: revitalizing neighborhoods; helping people understand credit and debt; assisting with asset building and savings; credit boot camps; financial coaching; and collaborating with partners to create homeownership opportunities.

Program Type: Adult Financial Education & Capability

Grant Term: Two Years (January 2016 – December 2017) | Amount Awarded: $32,000

Funds Requested for July 1, 2017 – December 31, 2017: $8,000 | Total Reimbursed YTD: $32,000

Program Status to Date: Completed

During the 4th reporting period, a combination of one-on-one coaching, email/phone communication and monthly group workshops enabled Easter Seals of Greater Houston to reach more clients and maintain better coaching relationships with participants. Easter Seals of Greater Houston dedicated 471 direct contact hours training a total of 114 program participants. In addition to monthly group trainings, 20 families received one-on-one training on household budgeting with specific focus on debt reduction. Ten families successfully purchased a home during this reporting period. 

Reporting Period Update (July 1, 2017 – December 31, 2017)

Program Activities

• Conducted monthly group classes focusing on credit basics and homebuyer’s education 
• Conducted ongoing one-on-one financial coaching sessions for 20 families
• Provided homebuyers education to 10 families who successfully purchased homes

Major Achievements

• Provided a total of 114 individuals financial education through group classes, and individual credit and debt counseling sessions
• Provided home buying assistance to an increased number of families this reporting period
• Surpassed proposed grant program goals

Biggest Challenges

• Creating customized plans for the vast differences shown in client demographics and geographic area

Upcoming Activities

•  Will utilize tools such as the pre and post survey, measures and strategies developed during the grant cycle to expand outreach to populations needing basic financial coaching
• Continue partnerships with stakeholders from state and local government, secondary-education providers and financial institutions to provide financial education. 

El Paso Credit Union HOAP, promotes community development by targeting the financially underserved community to provide them the ability to develop family assets, and economic and financial stability. HOAP provides financial education, one-on-one housing counseling, credit counseling, and down-payment assistance to low to moderate income homebuyers. The HOAP provides housing opportunities to community members who would otherwise be unable to become homeowners.

Program Type: Adult Financial Education & Capability

Grant Term: One Year (January 2016 – December 2016) | Amount Awarded: $25,000

Total Reimbursed YTD:  $21,505                                     

Program Status to Date: Completed

Now that the one-year grant term has ended, the program is focused on finding and implementing new ways to keep participants actively engaged.

Upcoming Activities

•  The program has secured additional funding sources and will continue providing financial literacy classes

Family Pathfinders of Tarrant County

Family Pathfinders provides low and moderate income families financial coaching to help clients adopt positive financial behaviors and increase their financial stability. TFEE funding supports the Two Generation Stability Program that provides one-on-one financial coaching services to parents whose children receive case management services from Communities in Schools (CIS).  

Program Type: Financial Coaching

Grant Term: Two Years (January 2016 – December 2017) | Amount Awarded: $32,000

Funds Requested for July 1, 2017 – December 31, 2017: $5,671.44   | Total Reimbursed YTD: $32,000

Program Status to Date: Completed

During the 4th reporting period, Family Pathfinders of Tarrant County managed a significant increase in program enrollment and participation. A total of 253 direct contact hours were dedicated to 52 families (11 Spanish-Speaking) participating in one-on-one financial coaching services. Additionally, the partnership with Arlington Collegiate High School (ACHS) yielded positive results by referring 12 new families to the program. Pathfinders will continue to provide financial counseling to an active group of 26 families. 

Reporting Period Update (July 1, 2017 – December 31, 2017)

Program Activities

• Provided financial coaching services to a total of 52 families
• Secured partnerships with Arlington Collegiate High School, the Housing Channel, Fort Worth Housing Solutions, Ladder Alliance, Habitat for Humanity, the Parent Center, Tarrant County College and the Women’s Center
• Offering Savings Match Incentives, EARN Starter Savings Program, and financial education in both English and Spanish

Major Achievements

• Provided 253 direct training hours
• 52 active clients, ten clients successfully completed the program and 16 clients dropped the program
• 11 active Spanish-Speaking participants
• Significant decrease from 19% to 0.1% of participants with overdrawn accounts

Biggest Challenges

• Participant outreach and follow up communication
• Participant availability and change in priority

Upcoming Activities

• Identifying new partnerships to insure steady influx of participants
• Staff will continue to participate in professional development and host train-the-trainer sessions to expand the financial coaching knowledge among staff and local area practitioners
   

Family Service Association seeks to increase economic opportunities for low-income families and individuals. The Financial Empowerment Services program provides San Antonio residents financial education and capability through one-on-one financial counseling. The focus is on reducing debt, increasing credit scores, savings, banking and wealth building.  

Program Type: Financial Coaching

Grant Term: Two Years (January 2016 – December 2017) | Amount Awarded: $32,000

Funds Requested for July 1, 2017 – December 31, 2017: $18,780 | Total Reimbursed YTD: $31,999.28

Program Status to Date: Completed

During the 4th reporting period, Family Service Association of San Antonio (FSASA) conducted a total of 1,506 one-on-one financial coaching sessions for 1,007 unduplicated participants. In addition, 316 participants reduced their debt by 10% or more, while 72 individuals saved 2% of their annual income. The program continues to bundle educational services with financial counseling to holistically approach the participants’ needs. The program has maintained level staffing and created long term sustainability through other funding sources. For FSASA, meeting the demand for financial education in San Antonio consistently remains the program’s biggest challenge.  

Reporting Period Update (July 1, 2017 – December 31, 2017)

Program Activities

• Provided financial services to 642 new participants
• 47 individuals entered job training and are working to secure gainful employment
• 60 participants opened or transitioned to a safe and affordable bank account
• 144 individuals saved for 3 months
• Partnered with City Municipality, United Way of San Antonio and Bexar County  

Major Achievements

• Assisted $4 million in debt reduction in 2017 through financial counselling services
• Provided 1,007 participants with one-on-one financial counseling sessions
• Survey data shows 316 individuals reduced their debt by 10%
• Survey data shows 128 individuals were able to increase their credit scores by a minimum of 35 points 

Biggest Challenges

• Meeting the demand for financial counseling 

Upcoming Activities

• Has established long term sustainability through other funding sources and will continue to provide financial services to the underserved population

Goodwill’s financial literacy program strives to increase the financial knowledge and capability of low-income clients, leading to increased self-sufficiency and economic security. 

Program Type: Adult Financial Education & Capability

Grant Term: 2 Years (January 2016 – December 2017) | Amount Awarded: $32,000

Funds Requested for July 1, 2017 – December 31, 2017: $4,346 | Total Reimbursed YTD: $31,999.81                         

Program Status to Date: Completed

During the 4th reporting period, Goodwill Industries of Central Texas continues to offer nine financial education classes each week, in addition to their one-on-one counseling services allowing them to service a total of 220 participants. Client interest and participation has been consistent. The program secured 100% participation in at least one financial coaching session from all ‘credit score check’ clients. Excellence in curriculum and trusted service delivery has allowed Goodwill to partner with several local social services companies such as United Way, Foundation Communities, The City of Austin, state of Texas agencies and Safe Place to provide financial empowerment and education to the underserved populations.  

Reporting Period Update (July 1, 2017 – December 31, 2017)

Program Activities

• Currently offers nine group financial education seminars weekly
• Currently offers six different classes: Budgeting, Savings, Credit, Personal Finance 101, How to Buy a Car, and Entrepreneurial Skills
• Increased focus on budgeting services containing numerous tips about reducing expenses and increasing income offered to clients participating in various program services 

Major Achievements

• Provided 220 individuals financial education through financial education seminars
• 374 direct contact hours with participants
• Increased interest and response from clients
• 87% of clients indicated the classes contained relevant information and would recommend the course to others
• 11 participants established or raised savings 

Biggest Challenges

• Large percentage of the program clients are homeless or unemployed and have difficulty focusing on financial capability when their basic needs are not met
• Securing follow-up participation post-class after significant time has passed

Upcoming Activities

• Developing an action plan to improve the follow-up data collection process to accurately track participants’ progress and improvements
• Increased budget for checking credit scores to increase client engagement with building and following up on credit building services 

By working with kindergarten through grade 12 educators, TCEE aims to plant the seeds of a healthier U.S. economy and personal financial stability. TCEE’s goal is to provide teachers with hands-on lessons and programs that allow students to practice implementing real life economic and financial skills, and thus pave the way to a life of economic security and a Smarter Texas.

Program Type: K-12 Financial Education & Capability

Grant Term: Two Years (January 2016 – December 2017) I Amount Awarded: $32,000

Funds Requested for July 1, 2017 – December 31, 2017: $9,150 | Total Reimbursed YTD: $32,000                           

Program Status to Date: Completed

During the 4th reporting period, Texas Council on Economic Education effectively focused on extending their geographic reach to the Rio Grande Valley of South Texas and Northern Texas. TCEE provided 11 train-the-trainer workshops to 288 teachers surpassing their overall goal by more than 390 teachers. In addition, TCEE increased the number of teachers providing post-class data from eight to 25. Although this was an increase from previous reporting periods, post-class data collection remains one of the biggest challenges for the program. Approximately 18,620 students were reached by TCEE trained teachers this reporting cycle. 

Reporting Period Update (July 1, 2017 – December 31, 2017)

Program Activities

• Conducted two financial literacy train-the trainer workshops in the Rio Grande Valley
• Conducted two financial literacy train-the trainer workshops in the Dallas Area
• Trained 288 additional teachers 

Major Achievements

• Surpassed the proposed goal of trained trainers by more than 390
• TCEE trained teachers reached 18,620
• Have trained teachers in nearly every grade level
• Increased teacher participation in post-class data collection 

Biggest Challenges

• Houston TCEE Office closed and TCEE struggled with the transition
• Collecting testing data from teachers who attended workshops 

Upcoming Activities

• Will focus on increasing teacher participation in post-class data collection now that the $50 stipends are no longer used
• Will focus on expanding and strengthening the Center Director network of partnerships 

The mission of TSAHC is to serve the housing needs of low-income and underserved families and communities. TSAHC provides a variety of programs aimed at helping consumers access affordable homes and apartments, as well as high-quality home buyer education financial coaching, credit counseling and foreclosure prevention services in their communities. In addition, TSAHC administers the Texas Statewide Homebuyer Education Program (TSHEP) on behalf of the state of Texas to ensure financial counselors have the training they need to provide the highest quality counseling services.

Program Type: Adult Financial Education & Capability

Grant Term: Two Years (January 2016 – December 2017) | Amount Awarded: $32,000

Funds Requested for July 1, 2017 – December 31, 2017: $22,500 | Total Reimbursed YTD: $32,000

Program Status to Date: Completed

During the 4th reporting period, Texas State Affordable Housing Corporation completed one week-long training workshop. TSAHC has trained 140 housing and financial counselors, who have helped approximately 20,247 low and moderate income families during this grant term. In addition, in June 2016 TSAHC had significant success with the weekly financial education webinars and has decided to continue to provide them quarterly throughout 2018.

Reporting Period Update (July 1, 2017 – December 31, 2017)

Program Activities

• Provided one week-long TSHEP workshop offering two NeighborWorks America courses: Post-Purchase Education Methods and Delivering Effective Financial Education for Today’s Consumer
• Partnerships with 80 community organizations 

Major Achievements

• Trained 33 housing and financial counselors 
• Have served 73 Texas counties 
• TSAHC trained trainers reached approximately 8,560 low and moderate income families 
• TSAHC trained organizations have helped 720 participants establish or increase credit scores, savings, and/or reduce debt
• 100% of participants reported that they would recommend TSHEP training workshop to others

Biggest Challenges

• Collecting data from counselors who have attended TSHEP training
• Meeting the demand for financial counseling 

Upcoming Activities

• Secured funding to expand training opportunities to include the “Housing Connection,” an affordable housing development and real estate financing education program, in 2018