Constituent Financial Empowerment Services

The vendor required to provide homeownership counseling, financial literacy and credit counseling, and facilitation of technical assistance for small businesses and entrepreneurs serving residents and enterprises within county.
- Objectives
•    Support residents in improving budgeting, credit management, and overall financial decision making; 
•    Promote readiness for sustainable homeownership through education and counseling; 
•    Encourage stabilization and responsible growth of small businesses; and
•    Improve access to coordinated financial counseling and technical assistance services countywide. 
•    Serve at least fifty (50) small businesses annually through financial counseling, technical assistance facilitation, and related support services.
- Homeownership counseling services
1. Pre-purchase counseling
•    First-time and repeat home buyer education.
•    Mortgage readiness and affordability assessments.
•    Household budget analysis and debt-to-income evaluation.
•    Education on mortgage products, underwriting criteria, and lending requirements.
•    Assistance navigating down payment assistance and subsidy programs available in county and the greater city.
•    Fair housing education and borrower rights.
2. Home buyer education workshops
•    Group workshops covering the full home buying process.
•    Curriculum aligned with HUD, or equivalent standards.
•    Certificates of completion where applicable.
3. Post-purchase counseling
•    Home maintenance and repair planning.
•    Escrow accounts, insurance, and property tax education.
•    Financial sustainability and long-term affordability counseling.
4. Foreclosure prevention and housing stability (as applicable)
•    Early intervention counseling for households experiencing financial distress.
•    Education on loss mitigation and workout options.
•    Referrals to mortgage servicers, legal aid, and housing stabilization partners.
- Financial literacy and credit counseling services
1. Financial literacy education
•    Budgeting and cash flow management.
•    Banking relationships and financial product education.
•    Savings strategies and emergency preparedness.
•    Debt management and responsible credit use.
•    Basic financial planning and tax readiness.
2. Credit counseling and improvement
•    Credit report review and explanation.
•    Credit score improvement strategies.
•    Dispute and error resolution guidance.
•    Debt repayment planning and monitoring.
3. Individual financial coaching
•    One-on-one counseling sessions.
•    Development of individualized financial action plans.
•    Ongoing progress tracking tied to housing or business goals.