Our Wealth Development programs provide clients with housing and financial counseling services. From homebuyers and renters to people who are experiencing homelessness, we provide customizable group and 1:1 education and coaching to help. Our clients are encouraged to create a plan to help them save, control their spending, reduce their debt and build their credit with a goal of homeownership. Asset building through homeownership is a main goal of our program along with financial stabilization and wealth creation.
PROGRAM ENROLLMENT REQUIRED.
To enroll in any of the Wealth Development programs outlined below, please complete and submit our Universal Intake Form.
Financial Workshops and Programs
The Urban League Twin Cities partners with the Family Assets for Independence in Minnesota (FAIM) program to offer Individual Development Accounts (IDAs), which are matched savings accounts that help people with modest means to save towards the purchase of a lifelong asset, such as a home.
At the end of our program, you’ll know how to build a budget and savings plan, strong created and better banking practices. We’ll work to stabilize your housing and create a pathway to home ownership.
You will work with a HUD certified Counselor in the CreditSmart program, an interactive curriculum, which teaches you about the 4 C’s of credit – acquiring credit, repairing bad credit, maintaining a good credit score, as wells how to as protect yourself from identity fraud. Upon completion of the course, you have will have a sound understanding of budgeting, your credit report and how to maintain strong credit for life.
This one-on-one workshop can help you achieve banking independence. Participants will work with a Wealth Accumulation counselor to identify and remove obstacles to mainstream banking. You will review your checking account histories, Chex Systems report, and budgeting habits. You will also review and/or identify your current costs for banking at Payday lending stores, check cashing stores, pawnshops, rent to own and other more expensive options. You will learn how to investigate banking fees and charges before you decide which credit union or banking relationship best fits your needs and review your credit report to identify other obstacles to obtaining a banking relationship. This 2-hour workshop is offered by appointment only.
North Plus is a collaboration comprised of four North Minneapolis-based organizations committed to increasing financial capability of the African American community in North Minneapolis. Collaboration partners include Urban League Twin Cities, Hope United Community Development Corporation, NorthPoint Health & Wellness Center, Inc., and Summit Academy OIC.
This pilot program has four areas of focus – financial coaching, health and wellness, workforce training/development, and faith-based community engagement. The collaboration is grounded in being a learning community in order to understand, learn and make improvements to the program along the way based on our participants’ direct experience.
Our pilot strategy is to design and integrate a holistic referral network within our Community of Practice that provides culturally-anchored financial capability* and well-being services to the African American community in North Minneapolis.
North Plus is a part of a larger network of collaborations across the country, called the African American Financial Capability Initiative (AAFCI), working to address the racial wealth divide. Learn more about the AAFCI here.
*Financial capability is defined as the capacity, based on knowledge, skills, and access, to manage financial resources effectively.” – Prosperity Now
If you’re interested in this pilot program, email northplus@ultcmn.org.
Housing Workshops and Programs
This workshop covers fair lending practices, identifying lending scams and rental discrimination. Qualifying clients will have free access to legal consultation offered through the Legal Aid Society of Minneapolis and Voluntary Lawyers Network. One-on-one counseling is also available by appointment. This presentation is mobile can be delivered at housing sites, job sites, community gatherings, etc.
This program is designed to utilize a variety of existing resources to assist tenants who are in danger of losing their rental accommodations. Resources include but are not limited to: community agency/government programs, emergency shelter, free legal assistance. A HUD Certified counselor will work with you to analyze your situation, including your needs and the barriers to keeping or finding accommodations. You will be connected to resources that can help to resolve your issues, including services offered by the Urban League as well as partner agencies in the community.
Realizing the American Dream is an educational homebuyer education course. The course offers an interactive curriculum on all of the aspects of purchasing a home. Realizing the American dream offers non-biased, third party advice and access to multi-faceted resources. The curriculum covers: are you ready to buy a home; managing your money; obtaining a mortgage loan; shopping for a home; and protecting your investment. Upon completion of the course, each person is assigned to a HUD-approved housing counselor who works with them one-on-one to create their individual road map to home ownership.
Outcomes
Better budgeting and savings plan
In 2019, 87 of 155 of households we serve saved an average of $1,013 per household.
Stable and Safe Housing
In 2019, more than 89 percent of our rental clients were able to secure a safe place to live.
Three steps for struggling renters to delay eviction from consumerfinance.gov
Wealth Development Partners
