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November 2009
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Vol 2, Issue 1 | |
The Compass
For Asset Development
Professionals
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| Welcome! |
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The Compass is a communication channel for asset development practitioners like you to highlight training opportunities, best practices and new or ongoing programs. Its aim is to build a stronger network of services for Baltimore's working families by connecting all of the work we do. We look forward to seeing your organization's contributions in future issues. |
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Tell the asset development community what your organization is doing. Email your article to The Compass!
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| CFED 2009-2010 Assets & Opportunity Scorecard |
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CFED unveiled their 2009-2010 Assets & Opportunity Scorecard on September 21, 2009. The Scorecard is a comprehensive look at wealth, poverty and the financial security of families. It assesses each state on how the residents are faring and what the states are doing to help residents build and retain assets. The Scorecard also broke down the information by race and gender.
Maryland received an overall grade of "B" on the Scorecard. The evaluation said that Maryland could do more to encourage savings, increase access to health insurance, and to support microenterprise. Click here to view Maryland's 2009-2010 Assets and Opportunity Scorecard.
On October 16, 2009, the Baltimore CASH Campaign, Maryland CASH Campaign, and Job Opportunities Task Force sponsored a State Asset Policy Forum: Improving Marylanders' Financial Bottom Line. Forty people attended this event. It began with
Kasey Wiedrich of CFED giving an overview of the 2009-2010 Assets and Opportunity Scorecard, focusing on Maryland state data. Delegate Dana Stein shared information on the creation, implementation and impact of the Financial Literacy Task Force. Robin McKinney from Maryland CASH Campaign concluded with how to move asset building policy forward in the state of Maryland.
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| Client Success Story: EarnBenefits |
 EarnBenefits is a screening tool created by Seedco that connects individuals to income enhancing public and private benefits programs. Ms. H was excited to move out of her mother's house and into her own home with her four young sons, but she was nervous about how she was going to afford all of the bills. Ms. H and many families make difficult decisions everyday because of their limited income. For example, she was not visiting a doctor because she did not have health insurance. She was also dreading the upcoming winter season because of the high costs of energy, and she was using her mother's phone because she could not afford her own. After seeing a flyer at the local library about the program, Ms. H went to see the EarnBenefits Counselor at the Southeast Community Development Corporation. Using the EarnBenefits tool, the Counselor determined that Ms. H was eligible for food stamps, the Maryland Energy Assistance Program (MEAP) and Primary Adult Care (PAC). These benefits are a crucial financial resource to Ms. H and her sons. She can now afford to purchase nutritious food for her sons, she can now go to the doctor with the PAC insurance and MEAP will provide a grant to the cost of her heating bill. The Counselor has assisted Ms. H with the applications for the benefits she was eligible for and continues to follow-up with her to ensure the benefits were received. On a follow-up call the Counselor let Ms. H know of a new program called Safe Link that she is eligible for. This benefit will provide Ms. H with a free cell phone and 60 minutes a month at no charge, so now she does not need to go to her mother's home to make phone calls. For more information about the program contact Adriane Thomas at 410-342-3234 x 22 or adriane@baltimorecashcampaign.org. |
First Call for Help Maryland 2-1-1 |
United Way of Maryland serves as the 2-1-1 center in central Maryland, connecting people to the health and human services they need 24 hours a day, seven days a week, in more than 150 languages. It began in Maryland in 2006 and continues to be an effective aid to Maryland residents.
Certified, social work professionals answer calls and using a comprehensive database of services, they are able to direct the callers to the service they need. The line helps with basic human needs; physical and mental health; employment support; support for older Americans and people with disabilities; support for children, youth, and families; and volunteer opportunities and donations.
Last year alone there were over 160,000 calls. The top reasons people called were for financial assistance for utility billing, emergency food and housing, financial assistance to prevent eviction, and tax assistance. The staff is well informed to direct callers to VITA sites so that they can receive free tax preparation services. Considering the current economic situation, First Call for Help is a great resource for people finding themselves in tough financial situations for the first time.
There are more than 500 telephone numbers that callers could call to find resources, but First Call for Help helps them find the right place quickly. This service is beneficial to the state as a whole too because it helps identify the gaps in service so that they can be filled based on the needs requested.
Additional numbers for United Way of Central Maryland's First Call for Help:
410-685-0525 (Greater Baltimore)
1-800-492-0618 (Outside Baltimore, but within Maryland)
Click here for more information.
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| New Borrow and Save Program |
Neighborhood Housing Services of Baltimore (NHS) enacted a Borrow and Save Program in August, 2009, the first of its kind in Maryland. The purpose is to help borrowers combat payday lenders and move toward healthier savings. The goal is for clients to get on the right track through saving and asset building. It is an opportunity for them to establish or improve their credit since NHS will report the loan to the credit bureau.
Clients must reside in specific zip codes in East Baltimore and have a checking account open to qualify. They do not have to have a savings account prior to coming to see NHS, but it is required for them to open one. The clients can receive a loan from anywhere between $300 and $1,000 and the interest rate is 7.99%. They do not have any pre-payment fees.
In order to receive the loan, clients are required to participate in financial fitness education and in one-on-one counseling. Every month they have to deposit at least $5 in their savings accounts and then NHS will match the $5 savings, giving them $60 for the year. This is supposed to help address both the credit and savings components to this program.
Numerous financial institutions in Baltimore are helping to fund the program: Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), Bank of America, BB&T, Catholic Campaign for Human Development, 1st Mariner Bank, Hamilton Federal Bank, M&T Bank, MECU, SunTrust, and Wachovia. NHS has a total of $70,000 to use towards this program. Over time, the interest rate should enable the program to fund itself.
In only a few months, NHS has already entered 69 clients into the program. They have primarily been requesting loans for BGE, medical bills, water bills, and emergency car payments. This is a great resource to help people get loans before they fall too far behind. Through this program, hopefully clients will become more financially fit and develop better credit to stay financially secure in the future.
Click here for more information. |
| Legislative Billboard |
 NCTC's Day of Action
The National Community Tax Coalition (NCTC) organized a Day of Action in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday October, 21, 2009 with Volunteer Income Tax Asistance (VITA) and Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) programs around the country. The goal and theme of the day was "Strengthening the Impact of the EITC &VITA". The Hatcher Group created EITC/VITA toolkits. It was extremely resourceful and encompassed data created by the Brookings Institution.
The day began with a breakfast and panel discussion about VITA and the EITC with David Rothstein, Elizabeth Kneebone, Robin McKinney, Peter Ruark, and Justin King. They focused on the talking points that would be discussed with legislators later in the day, helping to motivate and emphasize the needed issues to be discussed. The afternoon was spent building relationships with our legislators and advocating for NCTC policy priorities. VITA organizations spoke with their legislators about funding for community tax preparation services, regulation of paid-preparers, safe financial products for all consumers, and savings opportunities for low-wage workers. Over 35 VITA programs attended the Day of Action in Washington D.C. and visited their Congressional staffers in their districts. Baltimore CASH Campaign and Maryland CASH Campaing visited a total of 7 Congressional staffers that day to educate them about the EITC and VITA. They helped establish relationships in order to gain support in the future. Many of the Congressional staffers seemed interested and enthusiastic about the work of the VITA programs. Click here to view the policy briefing. It is still possible to have access to all of the materials handed out on the Day of Action so that you can also continue to communicate with your legislators about the EITC and VITA. For more information visit: http://www.tax-coalition.org/advocacy/dayOfAction.cfm. |
| CareerPathways: Open Positions |
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Hampden Family Center
EarnBenefits Specialist: will be responsible for connecting residents to a wide range of public and private benefits that provide them with needed resources to achieve continuous employment, make ends meet and build assets. Through a partnership with Seedco the EarnBenefits Specialist will coordinate and deliver case management services at the Hampden Family Center and work with other community groups to connect residents to these services. This is a full time position.
Send cover letter and resume to:
The Hampden Family Center
1104 West 36th Street
Baltimore, MD 21211
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Neighborhood Housing Services of Baltimore
Education Manager/Homeownership Advisor: qualified candidates should be comfortable facilitating workshops and providing individual counseling sessions. Candidate must be able to communicate effectively both orally and in writing. Must be energetic, team player, creative and work with a diverse group of Maryland residents. Prior experiences as a housing counselor, or experience in the areas of mortgage lending and real estate is required. The Education Manager is responsible for the development, delivery, advancement, and sustainability of all NHSB consumer education services. In addition, the Manager is responsible for facilitating comprehensive education classes in the Homebuyer Education Department.
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The Women's Law Center of Maryland, Inc. (WLC)
Project Director, Employment Law Hotline: plans and manages all aspects of a weekly employment law hotline that provides legal information and manages a lawyer referral panel. The Women's Law Center of Maryland, Inc. (WLC) is a feminist, non-profit membership organization committed to assuring equal rights for women. To learn more about the WLC, visit our web site at www.wlcmd.org. Send resume and cover letter to tbrown@wlcmd.org
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Humanim
Customized Training & Placement Specialist - WorkFirst: will include working collaboratively with Johns Hopkins Hospital and Baltimore City One-Stop Center personnel, providing soft and hard skills training in both classroom and community settings, job development and placement services, and ongoing job support to ensure that participants successfully maintain employment after completing training. Qualifications include a Bachelors Degree or equivalent work experience, excellent verbal communication skills including the ability to provide effective classroom instruction, and a high level of independence and demonstrated time management skills. Preference will be given to candidates with a background in the healthcare industry and/or workforce development. A personal vehicle is required for this position. Position is full-time, Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm.
For more details: click here
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| Ability Bank: Upcoming Trainings and Events |
Volunteer Training, Supervision, and Retention
Terry Berg, Terry Berg Solutions; and Fay Mauro, Volunteer Center for Anne Arundel County- Fee $25
Successful performance is based on being prepared and motivated to carry out an assigned task. Ensuring that volunteers understand their role is essential. The more effort supervisors put into the initial stage of a volunteer's career, the greater the return will be on that investment. The second half of the success equation is keeping volunteers enthused about the organization and satisfied with work. This workshop focuses on sustaining an effective volunteer program. $25, registration required, lunch provided. Date: Dec. 9, 2009 - 9:30am- 1pm For more information and to register click here.
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35th Anniversary Gala
Project PLASE, Inc. - Ticket $75
Come join Project PLASE in celebrating this significant milestone. They have been providing housing and supportive services in Baltimore for the last 35 years, serving over 10,000 homeless individuals. Featuring Keynote Speaker John Corcoran, author of The Bridge to Literacy and The Teacher Who Couldn't Read. Date: Nov. 14, 2009 5:30pm Pratt Central Library, 400 Cathedral Street, Baltimore, MD Location: Tremont Grand Attire: formal For Ticket Purchases: www.projectplase.org or 410-837-1400 ext. 15
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NeighborWorks Training Institute SymposiumRising to the Challenge: Stabilizing Communities in the Wake of Foreclosures
Discover new tools for progress in the stabilization and transformation of our communities. This stimulating day will focus attention on innovative policy, financing, property acquisition and development strategies. Learn about comprehensive best practicies that will help all of us deliver on our missions to improve and advance sustainable communities. Policymakers, funders, practitioners, developers, and property managers will share the latest and most effective techniques and ideas to illustrate how you can get the work done in your community.
Dates: Dec. 7-11, 2009
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30th Annual Welfare Advocates Conference
Past-Present-Future
When: Wednesday - November 18, 2009
8:00 am - 3:45 pm
Where:
Crown Plaza, Baltimore
2004 Greenspring Drive
Timonium, MD 21093
Keynote Speaker:
The Honorable Elijah E. Cummings (U.S. Congressman - 7th District)
To register or for more information:Please contact Carol Palmer at 410-261-6780 or cpalmer@cc-md.org
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The Consumer in the Financial Services Revolution
Consumer Federation of America
Federal and state policymakers and regulators continue to address pressing banking, insurance, investment, and real estate issues affecting consumers, after more than two decades of financial services deregulation and reregulation. To keep consumer advocates and educators informed about these issues, the Consumer Federation of America presents an annual conference on financial services, planned with the assistance of consumer groups and the financial services industry.
Dates: December 3-4, 2009
Click here for more information
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$ - Baltimore CASH Campaign's 2010 tax season marketing materials will be available soon!
$ - Save the date: Saturday, March 13, 2010, for Money Power Day 2010 |
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