Tri-Town Community Action Agency has received a Financial Stability Grant awarded by the United Way of Southeastern New England to improve the financial literacy of low income adults and youth. Tri-Town will receive $70,000 a year for three years to improve the financial skills of adults who are in crisis, as well as youth who need to gain basic knowledge to manage their own finances.  Individual and/or Group Counseling sessions will be held at Tri-Town's main office in Johnston and also at South County Community Action Agency's (SCCA) main office in Wakefield. 

The goals of the Financial Stability program are to increase the participant's income and then to help them understand the steps necessary to build savings and sustain assets.  Any low-income individual may apply for or be referred to the program. Many adults are expected to come to the program through the agencies' Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program which serves individuals and families who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. Young people will be recruited through the agencies' Youth Opportunity Centers and will target 14 to 24 year olds with little or no knowledge of basic financial planning and basic financial tasks.

Instructors will use the FDIC's Smart Money curriculum which includes banking basics, budgeting, establishing and repairing credit, borrowing, identifying predatory lending and more.  Case managers will also help participants access the agencies' comprehensive array of social services to help transform them out of poverty and into self-sufficiency.

Group classes and/or individual counseling sessions for HPRP and Youth Opportunity Center participants and will be provided at various times during the day, evening and weekends for the convenience of participants.

For more information, please contact: Katie von Maffei at 401-519-1960

Financial Stability Counseling and Case Management Locations:

    Tri-Town Community Action Agency                South County Community Action Agency