Financial Empowerment Program

CLUES’ Financial Empowerment Program is the culminating step of the Economic Advancement Services Division and focuses on assisting Latinos and new immigrants who are struggling to understand the mainstream financial system.  This program helps families increase their financial knowledge step by step: from opening their first checking account to starting a relationship with a bank, to purchasing a home or owning a business. The program is a logical progression of services for our clients. Low levels of financial literacy oftentimes lead to low job retention rates and subsequent returns to government support programs. Many of our clients, unfamiliar with the positive effects of job retention, economic advancement, and tax and insurance benefits, quit their jobs and remain incapable of achieving economic self-sufficiency. Additionally, cultural values, lack of English proficiency, low levels of literacy, and a general mistrust of financial institutions preclude our clients from making beneficial financial decisions, which are pivotal to achieve upward mobility. The Financial Empowerment Services Division offers multifaceted service delivery for financial education, including one-on-one financial counseling, financial education classes, home ownership classes and counseling, and free taxpayer assistance and preparation services.

Financial Empowerment Program Brochure