Finding financial help in Cincinnati, or Asking for it Anywhere on Aidpage

In my time of blogging andwebmistressing about financial help for individuals, I have found local sites with more in-depth resources than this blog could provide to a whole country.  That’s because most real financial help is in fact locally-based, even if the funding in some cases, comes from the federal government.  In Detroit, Julie’s List keeps up an impressive list of local resources for those needing emergency financial help as well as those attempting to save a buck, or get a job, in southeast Michigan.

In Cincinnati, there is also a local page, Cincy Benefits and Resources by Cincinnati VA Medical Center.  While it has a couple of dead links (and some dates listed are distressingly...dated), it has lots of local things that could be checked out that are more relevant to Queen City people—and those from nearby northern Kentucky—than a broader national source.  For instance, low-cost carrepair, dental clinics, and computers for low-income people.  Cincy Benefits promises to have more from nearby Indiana in a future edition.

Nationally, a website called Aidpage allows individuals to sign up and put their needs to the public in general.  You just create a free account and post your needs, or offer advice or encouragement for others.  I featured a particularly useful Aidpage contributionin a previous posting on computers for low-income people. 

 Often, postings involve information on concrete help for a particular situation—burial expenses, money to help with an emergency need, etc.—but sometimes people simply encourage and pray for each other.  Or, as in the example I cited with computers, there are large postings on general issues.  The site’s administrators—from the company People Networks Inc.—stress the need to keep yourself anonymous by not using your real name, address, or email.  Thus you can encourage and advise other people while keeping yourself safe and unspammed.  It’s a very different one-on-one approach from my librarianish blog and website, and one that you might want to consider using if you have a particular need, or if you want to offer your expertise to others in need.

Could You Use Some Financial Coaching and Advice? It May Be Out There.

What’s a financial opportunity center?  It’s a place where low or moderate income people can go to get help in setting long-term financial goals, like savings and investment, from people who aren’t selling products.  They can help think about where you would like to be financially in the long term, and how to use resources in your community like job training, benefits and income tax preparation as tools to get there.  This goes beyond “emergency help” and works to get people to the next level, where they are planning on creating financial assets and growing them for the long run.

 In north Toledo, ONE North has created a financial opportunity center at 2860 Lagrange Street near Dexter for people living in north Toledo. The phone number is (419) 724 5640.  You can get “financial coaching” to achieve your financial goals, income tax preparation, and financial education opportunities, like the budgeting and banking class on July 13th, or the class on credit and loans on July 23rd. 

But Toledo is just one city with financial opportunity centers.  Other places include Detroit, Houston, Cincinnati, Rhode Island, Minnesota, Chicago, Indianapolis, San Diego and more.  They are funded in cooperation with LISC (Local Initiatives Support Corporation), a national nonprofit, but they are run by local nonprofits in their cities.  Look for the local LISC office in your area and ask if there is a local nonprofit with such programs.  They can tell you if they have a local nonprofit partner that provides such services.