Free Senior Financial Workshops
Our community’s senior population is growing fast. Unfortunately, so are scams aimed at taking their money, financial security and dignity. Seniors often possess valuable assets and as they age they become increasingly vulnerable to scams, fraud and financial abuse.
That’s why Empowering and Strengthening Ohio’s People (ESOP) is working with local libraries, churches, senior groups and community centers to help to educate seniors on how to identify and avoid financial exploitation and learn more about how to manage their finances and remain vital members of our neighborhoods.
Free classes are currently being offered on Thursday’s at the Collinwood Branch of the Cleveland Public Library from 12:30 – 3:30 p.m.
As part of ESOP’s Senior Financial Empowerment Initiative, the agency offers free financial counseling, benefits checkups to make sure seniors receive all the public benefits they can to maintain their home and income, loans for seniors with property tax delinquency, and financial education workshops.
The workshops are based on the Money Smart for Older Adults (MSOA)curriculum developed by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau in partnership with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC)). There are six sessions covering the following topics: how to identify and avoid elder financial abuse; how to identify and access additional benefits and entitlements; understanding credit reports, scores and how to improve your credit score; financial goal setting and budgeting; and understanding affordable banking and financial products.
The workshops also provide seniors with important information on where and how to report financial exploitation. Seniors are strongly encouraged to sign up for one-on-one financial counseling to assess their financial stability.
A complete schedule of upcoming workshops is posted on ESOP’s website at http://www.esop-cleveland.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=192&Itemid=102. For more information or to schedule a workshop for your group please contact Sonya Edwards at 216-361-0718 or sedwards@esop-cleveland.org.
Deonna Kirkpatrick
Deonna Kirkpatrick, Director of Communications for Empowering and Strengthening Ohio's People (ESOP). ESOP is a non-profit HUD-approved housing and financial counseling agency. Our mission is to foster the economic empowerment of disenfranchised communities through outreach, education and advocacy.