Financial Empowerment Program

Information and skills to improve credit, reduce debt and increase savings.

El Centro de la Raza is an agency certified by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the services are provided by Certified Housing Counselors. Our purpose is to financially educate low to moderate-income households to strengthen their financial capacity and help them achieve their economic goals, including acquiring their own home. The Financial Empowerment Program provides group education and individual advice on topics such as housing, budgets, credit, money management, savings, debt reduction and more.

The Financial Empowerment services are as follows:

One-On-One Counseling: Individuals can schedule a one-on-one session with a Certified Housing Counselor for assistance with their particular financial situation. The discussion can focus on budgeting, building credit, saving, paying off debt, purchasing a home, business credit, or any other financial topic that comes up.

Lending Circles: Enables low to moderate-income people to successfully build assets and increase economic stability. Through our partnership with Mission Asset Fund, lending circles increase participants’ progress toward individual and household financial goals such as increasing savings, reducing debt, building credit, and accessing personal loans.

First-Time Homebuyer & Foreclosure Prevention Education: This webinar provides an overview of the process of buying a home, as well as key concepts of home loans. Participants learn know how they can prevent foreclosure and not lose their home if they are in a default situation. At the end of the class, attendees receive a certificate valid for two years that allows them to access the Washington Housing Finance Commission home purchase programs.

For more information, visit us here or contact Janet Torres-Garcia at jtgarcias@elcentrodelaraza.org or 206-671-8860