Financial Literacy

Services

CRT offers financial counseling in clear, practical language. Hands-on, brief community workshops include:

• Managing Your Money and Credit
• Dreams, Values and Goals
• Understanding Your Credit Report
• Investing 101

Ten-week classes are also offered, which can prepare people to open an Individual Development Account, which is a matched savings program.

One-on-one counseling is available to help workshop participants put into practice what they have learned. People learn to set goals, put together spending plans, reduce debt and repair or build credit, so that they control their money instead of letting their money control them.

Financial Literacy Counseling:

Home budget and credit counseling reviews income and spending habits to help cient better afford a home and promote planning and savings habits for the future. Group classes are provided in:
- FDIC Money Smart Program
- Financial Literacy lessons cover opening the first checking account, understanding loan and credit options, “Pay yourself first” savings habits, putting together a home budget, credit repair, predatory lending and Identity theft. (see page 17)

Individual Development Accounts (IDA):

IDA help to save money towards a major life goal such as purchase of first home, start of a small business, or further one’s education. In some cases, IDAs may be used for the purchase of a vehicle or as a security deposit on an apartment. For every dollar saved (up to $1,500.00) the IDA program will match two. For instance, if $1,500.00 was saved the program will match $3,000.00.

Eligibility Requirements

Anyone in the community is eligible to take seminars with CRT’s Financial Literacy program.

Service Hours and Locations

Hours of service vary based on the needs of the customers; seminars provided both day and evening. For more information contact:

Financial Literacy/VITA Coordinator
CRT Center for HOME Solutions
395 Wethersfield Avenue, Hartford
Phone: (860) 560-4210.