Explanation
BACKGROUND
This ordinance authorizes the Director of the Department Development to enter into a not-for-profit service contract with Jewish Family Service, a non-profit corporation, in an amount up to $500,000.00 for the Columbus Financial Empowerment Center, and to authorize the payment of expenses starting January 1, 2026.
In 2021, the City of Columbus and Columbus Women’s Commission launched the Financial Empowerment Center, a program that has effectively served over 1300 Columbus residents, most of whom are women, on their journey to financial stability. Financial instability is indiscriminate in the individuals it affects; however, women are more likely to experience financial instability and feel it’s effects more deeply.
Financial stability is crucial to the ability to afford safe, quality housing, daily necessities, and prepare for unforeseen expenses. All of this is required for women and families to not just survive, but thrive.
The Financial Empowerment Center offers free on-on-one financial counseling as a public service for all Central Ohio residents. Financial counselors are trained and certified by the Cities for Financial Empower Fund to support clients as they navigate complex financial challenges and reach financial goals. The services provided by the FEC ensure women in Columbus, and all Columbus residents, have the ability to achieve financial stability.
Jewish Family Service serves as the Financial Counseling Provider to provide free, professional, one-on-one financial counseling services to Columbus residents as a municipal service. The funding provided will be used to retain four (4) financial counselors and one (1) program manager employed by Jewish Family Service for the provision of financial counseling services. The funding will also support marketing services and supplies to raise public awareness of the availability of these free financial counseling services.
Emergency Action is necessary to ensure funding is ava...
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