Consumer
Credit Counseling Service of Niagara To Hold Ribbon Cutting for New Site in
Lockport; Seeks to Economically Empower Lockport Residents
Niagara
County Financial Literacy Coalition Initiative Expands, Brings Number of
Niagara County Sites to 2
May 20, 2014
10:00 am
The Dale
Association
33 Ontario
Street
Among Lockport’s population of 41,694, nearly 6,000 Lockport residents
live on incomes under the federal poverty level.
An additional 6,800 are close to poverty, with incomes between 100%- 200%
of the poverty level and about 12,800 are doing poorly or struggling
financially. This is almost one out of every three in Lockport.
Knowing the dire
situation, last Fall, Consumer Credit Counseling Service (CCCS) launched an
initiative designed to provide opportunities for financial empowerment,
education and awareness. The Niagara County Financial Literacy Coalition is a
collaboration among over 25 human service providers, government and private
companies in Niagara County. Through the Coalition, CCCS launched
three unique services: financial coaching, financial literacy classes and
access to Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA).
CCCS opened its first office in Niagara Falls in the Family &
Children’s Services’ Niagara Family Center in October 2013. On Tuesday, May 20th at 10:00 am, CCCS will cut the ribbon for their new Lockport office at 33 Ontario Street, in partnership with the Dale Association. They invite the Lockport community to join their economic empowerment initiative.
CCCS
raised $95,500 in funding toward this initiative ensuring successful
implementation. In the past two years, the East Hill Foundation awarded
$23,000, the John R. Oishei Foundation awarded $45,000, the United Way of
Greater Niagara awarded $20,000 per year for the next three years and First
Niagara provided $10,000.
“We are proud to launch this much needed service in Niagara County,” said
Paul C. Atkinson, CEO and President of CCCS. “Our goal is to provide the
community with financial education that will help them attain security and
success.”The NCFLC approach identifies financial coaching for low-income populations as a core feature because its effectiveness helps families achieve their long term financial goals. CCCS has modeled this project on the Center for Working Families approach.
Our project is the first time that a model similar to the CASH Coalition
in Buffalo is being used to benefit Niagara County residents. It addresses the community need for economic
empowerment and serves a community that CCCS has served for nearly 50 years—low-income
individuals and families. We plan to serve 750-1,000 residents annually.
The Niagara County community is already strongly embracing this new
project.
“The Dale Association is pleased to be partnering with Consumer Credit
Counseling Service,” said Maureen A. Wendt, President and CEO of the Dale
Association. “This partnership allows
the residents of Niagara County easy access to financial counselors who will
meet privately, one on one with people and
financial education on topics designed to help people with budgeting and
debt control. Consumer Credit Counseling
Service has a proven track record of helping people with their financial goals
and we are pleased to provide access to such a valuable service in the Lockport
area on a regular basis."
Support also came from the United Way of Greater Niagara.
“We are extremely excited to be a
part of the launching of this program for Niagara County residents. Financial
Literacy is a huge area of concern and funding a program to address this need
is critical to the future stability of our community.” Said Carol G. Houwaart-Diez, President, United Way of Greater Niagara
First Niagara Financial Group has
been a supportive partner in the coalition.
“First Niagara is proud to partner
with Consumer Credit Counseling Service to invest in our community and empower
all residents to thrive,” said Buford Sears, First Niagara Buffalo Market
Executive. “The financial education and literacy opportunities that will
now be available in Lockport will help even more individuals in Western New
York achieve their financial goals.”
The
philosophy behind the NCFLC is to break the cycle of poverty via free
educational opportunities and counseling.
The array of services that CCCS and
the NCFLC offers:
1. Financial Coaching (One on One):
Participants will meet with certified financial counselors for sessions on a
quarterly basis.
2. Financial
Literacy: Classes-Dollars & Sense; Credit Counts and Money in Motion
3. Access
to Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA)
Collaboration
and synergistic partnerships play a key a role in the project. CCCS is counting
on community engagement with partners in building the Coalition, and has
received an overwhelmingly positive response from many local agencies. CCCS
will use partners’ offices to deliver financial education and counseling services
as needed--or requested. Participants in our financial counseling program will
be provided with referrals to other agencies with whom we collaborate.
To
date, CCCS has forged partnerships with the following Niagara County providers:
•
United Way
of Greater Niagara
•
Family
& Children’s Service of Niagara
•
The
American Red Cross
•
Literacy
Volunteers
•
NiaCap
(Niagara Community Action Program)
•
YWCA of
Niagara
•
YMCA of
Lockport
•
Niagara
Falls Housing Authority
•
Rivershore
•
City of
Niagara Falls Department of Community Development
•
Worksource
One
•
Niagara
University
•
NCCC Single
Moms Program
•
NYS Tax
Department
•
Heart, Love
and Soul
•
Highland
Community Revitalization Services
•
Niagara
Falls School District
•
The Dale
Association
•
Niagara
Orleans BOCES
•
Lockport
Main Street Inc.
For more information on the Coalition and CCCS —or
to get involved—contact Tara Vogel at 716-712-2062 or
tara.vogel@cccsbuffalo.org
About
CCCSCCCS is a non-profit, full-service credit counseling agency, providing confidential financial guidance, financial education, counseling and credit repayment assistance to consumers since 1965. CCCS of Buffalo helps consumers trim expenses, develop a spending plan and repay debts. Counseling is available at our Main Office in West Seneca, in one of our Satellite Offices, by telephone and via Internet. Visit www.consumercreditbuffalo.org for more information.