Metro Lutheran Ministry was recently awarded a $100,000 grant from the
Hancock Family Foundation to expand its Learning to Earning program to incorporate the research and evidence-based Financial Opportunity Center (FOC) model.
Through the FOC, a Financial Coach, supported by case managers who have received training in financial coaching, will guide clients. The initial focus is on basic stability. Initial spending plans and budgets prioritize food, shelter, and transportation so clients can retain reliable employment. Clients then attend financial classes which include content from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s Your Money, Your Goals, and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation’s Money Smart website. Specifically, clients learn about credit scores, what impacts their credit scores, and how to improve their credit rating. They also learn how to use the conventional banking system.