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Free, Professional, One-on-One Financial Counseling Trained financial counselors are here to listen to your financial goals and help you achieve them, no matter how many sessions it takes, all completely free.

Scheduling a Session Sign up for your financial counseling session by clicking on the FEC logo to the left or by visiting ColumbusFEC.org 
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HOW FINANCIAL COUNSELORS CAN HELP
Safe, Affordable Bank Accounts
Safe, Affordable Bank Accounts
 
Boosting Credit Scores
Boosting Credit Scores
 
Budgeting & Managing Finances
Budgeting & Managing Finances
Increasing Savings
Increasing Savings
 
Decreasing Debt
Decreasing Debt

  

ABOUT THE FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT CENTER
  • The City of Columbus and Jewish Family Services are partnering to offer free, professional, one-on-one financial counseling as a public service.
  • Available to anyone 18 and over in the Columbus area.
  • Interpreters are available in most languages, including sign language.
  • Most sessions will be conducted virtually but can be scheduled in person as public health conditions allow.
  • Information discussed with financial counselors is entirely confidential and will be kept private.
  • Sessions can be scheduled at ColumbusFEC.org or by calling 614-237-9675 

Increasing Financial Security Through Financial Empowerment Mayor Andrew J. Ginther and Columbus City Council are partnering to embed financial empowerment programs and policies into City services to improve financial security for all Columbus residents.
In July 2019, the City of Columbus was selected as one of seven cities to receive a CityStart grant from the Cities for Financial Empowerment (CFE) Fund. The CityStart grant provided planning dollars that initiated the development of a Financial Empowerment Roadmap.
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Financial Empowerment Roadmap: Financial Security for Women & Families in Columbus In September 2020, the City of Columbus released its Financial Empowerment Roadmap, a guide that details how the City can best provide financial security for Columbus residents, with a focus on women and families. The purpose of the Roadmap is to help coordinate, support, and grow Columbus’ financial empowerment services and systems.

The Roadmap was made possible through a CityStart Grant from Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund, a fund that supports municipal efforts to improve household financial stability by leveraging opportunities unique to local government.

Read the Executive Summary
Read the full Financial Empowerment Roadmap

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Financial Navigator Program As of December 10, 2021, the City of Columbus’s Financial Navigator program has closed. Since August 2020, our Financial Navigators have assisted over 2,000 Columbus and Franklin County residents in finding and obtaining emergency resources and services during these difficult pandemic circumstances.

As a result of these sessions, over 10,500 referrals have been made to connect those seeking help with those who can provide it. This was especially useful in the context of a pandemic in which service offerings were rapidly changing based on health concerns and funding fluctuations.

A few of the most common topics covered by Financial Navigators and residents included: finding emergency rental and utilities assistance, locating programs that serve the elderly in our community, helping those who have lost their jobs and are seeking employment, and helping manage personal finances.

Click here to see the full Financial Navigators Impact Report.

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The Financial Empowerment Center and the Financial Navigator program are made possible, in part, through grants from the Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund