Amid inflation and everyday financial strains, the Metro’s Office of Financial Empowerment, in partnership with Kroger, launched a new program to help residents.A recently released impact report on its first-year success shows it’s doing exactly what it intends.“I think the number one thing that we hear from clients is that this is Louisville’s best-kept secret,” said Ce Garrison, policy and advocacy supervisor for the office of financial empowerment.The Bank on Louisville Food and Financial Access Program is meant to be a resource connector.Garrison says surveying hundreds of Louisville residents through a financial health assessment, the program has helped people open bank accounts, manage debt, create emergency savings, prepare taxes, and know what their credit scores are. According to the report, nearly 50% of respondents were unaware of their score, 38% did not have bank accounts, and approximately 60% experienced regular financial stress.“It’s asking people to tell us their money stories, which is something people feel a little hesitant about in the beginning, but they realize someone is listening not to judge but to offer support and resources,” said Garrison.The project, which is intentional about meeting people where they are, was a phased and targeted rollout beginning in the spring of 2023.Financial counselors engaged with customers at a total of five Kroger stores in west and southwest Louisville, at nine Kroger mobile market locations, resource centers like Goodwill, local senior centers and several apartments like Dosker Manor. The program also focused on areas deemed food deserts, and impoverished communities, and prioritized residents receiving SNAP benefits and individuals with disabilities.“The vast majority of the folks that we served in this project and just generally are women-led households that are mostly single-parent households, so we also just really want to amplify the importance of gender equity,” said Garrison.From money management to food insecurity, the project is continuing to help residents thrive in the new year and is one of many solutions to long-standing issues in the city.“Some of our clients that did make it into financial counseling appointments, we were able to follow them and to see the success of those participants was just really awesome,” said Garrison.Other program partners include the Housing Authority, Dare to Care, Chase Bank, First Financial and PNC.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. —
Amid inflation and everyday financial strains, the Metro’s Office of Financial Empowerment, in partnership with Kroger, launched a new program to help residents.
A recently released impact report on its first-year success shows it’s doing exactly what it intends.
“I think the number one thing that we hear from clients is that this is Louisville’s best-kept secret,” said Ce Garrison, policy and advocacy supervisor for the office of financial empowerment.
The Bank on Louisville Food and Financial Access Program is meant to be a resource connector.
Garrison says surveying hundreds of Louisville residents through a financial health assessment, the program has helped people open bank accounts, manage debt, create emergency savings, prepare taxes, and know what their credit scores are. According to the report, nearly 50% of respondents were unaware of their score, 38% did not have bank accounts, and approximately 60% experienced regular financial stress.
“It’s asking people to tell us their money stories, which is something people feel a little hesitant about in the beginning, but they realize someone is listening not to judge but to offer support and resources,” said Garrison.
The project, which is intentional about meeting people where they are, was a phased and targeted rollout beginning in the spring of 2023.
Financial counselors engaged with customers at a total of five Kroger stores in west and southwest Louisville, at nine Kroger mobile market locations, resource centers like Goodwill, local senior centers and several apartments like Dosker Manor. The program also focused on areas deemed food deserts, and impoverished communities, and prioritized residents receiving SNAP benefits and individuals with disabilities.
“The vast majority of the folks that we served in this project and just generally are women-led households that are mostly single-parent households, so we also just really want to amplify the importance of gender equity,” said Garrison.
From money management to food insecurity, the project is continuing to help residents thrive in the new year and is one of many solutions to long-standing issues in the city.
“Some of our clients that did make it into financial counseling appointments, we were able to follow them and to see the success of those participants was just really awesome,” said Garrison.
Other program partners include the Housing Authority, Dare to Care, Chase Bank, First Financial and PNC.
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