Cuyahoga County has rolled out a new Financial Empowerment Center in Cleveland, giving residents a place to sit down with a professional and sort through money troubles without pulling out a credit card. The center, which opened Thursday, offers free one-on-one financial counseling designed to cut debt, boost credit scores and grow savings. County officials say the new hub will deliver confidential counseling, referrals and long-term follow up to help people steer clear of foreclosure and build more stable financial lives. A $150,000 grant is footing the bill to subsidize counseling services and get the program off the ground, according to the county.
The county’s Financial Empowerment Center page bills the program as a no-cost, no-judgment resource for anyone in Cuyahoga County, with counseling on debt reduction, credit building, foreclosure prevention and legacy planning, according to Cuyahoga County. Trained counselors will size up a client’s situation, connect them with public benefits and community partners, and keep in touch over time to track progress.
What the center will offer
The new Cleveland site follows the national Financial Empowerment Center model, which plants free, professional one-on-one counseling inside local government and tracks outcomes such as reduced debt and increased savings, the FEC network explains. Across that model, counselors help people hash out budgets, negotiate with creditors, sign up for safer banking products and get help at tax time or with benefits. County leaders say the local version will plug into existing housing and workforce programs in the region so residents can use a single front door to reach a range of financial help.
Funding and local partners
County social posts and program materials point to a $150,000 grant as the seed money for counseling services. Behind the scenes, county procurement documents show officials moved to secure CFE Fund implementation support and outlined a funding mix that includes local philanthropy, CFE grant dollars, tax-collection resources and federal TANF funds, according to a Cuyahoga County Board of Control agenda. Cuyahoga County Board of Control documents also note the county must line up nonprofit counseling partners to satisfy the FEC model’s requirements. The county has not yet publicly named which nonprofit will handle the day-to-day counseling work.
How to get help
Residents can find details and request an appointment through the county’s Financial Empowerment Center webpage, which includes program information and contact options, Cuyahoga County says. Officials suggest bringing pay stubs, bills and any creditor notices to a first session so counselors can quickly assess the situation and sketch out an immediate action plan.
Local advocates say having a centralized hub for counseling can keep people from sliding into high-cost debt or falling for financial scams, especially with everyday prices still squeezing household budgets. County leaders point to the FEC model’s track record in other cities, where counselors have helped clients reduce debt and build savings, as a key reason they pursued the program and its grant funding in Cuyahoga County.
