Finances and financial literacy are not things anyone wants to talk about. We all know the importance of keeping healthy finances, but do we really know how to acheive that goal?
We are lucky to have a great resource for learning about handling personal finances and so much more right in our own backyard, Working In Neighborhoods (WIN). LISC Greater Cincinnati is proud to partner with Working In Neighborhoods as they pursue their mission of serving low to moderate income residents in Greater Cincinati, including areas of Southeast Indiana and Northern Kentucky. We are dedicated to building the capacity of our community development partners, such as WIN. The strength of these partners is critical to achieving our strategic vision of forging resilient and inclusive communities of opportunity in the Greater Cincinnati region. LISC invests directly in our community development partners that align with our strategic vision. We provide grant funds and connections to training to build the capacity of organizations like WIN so that they can help people tackle all the facets of lasting financial health, including earning a paycheck, budgeting, building credit, and saving for a home.
The three pillars that WIN stands on are Homeownership, Financial Literacy, and Community Building.
WIN is dedicated to helping individuals and families find housing that fits their needs, including their budget. Throughout targeted neighborhoods WIN builds or renovates affordable homes to increase and bolster the housing stock. Overall WIN has built or rehabbed over 166 homes which were then sold to first time homebuyers.
Are you interested in buying your first home? As a HUD approved homebuying counselor, potential homeowners can enroll in classes to help them navigate the homebuying process. There are three options for those wishing to take a class: virtual via Zoom, in person at the WIN office, or a self-guided online course. Once you have signed up for one of the options, you will then receive a financial assessment from one of their approved counselors with an action plan for how to make the dream of owning a home a reality. At the end of the course, you will receive a certificate for downpayment assistance and will be armed with home-buying knowledge.
Once you’ve made the big purchase, WIN offers post-purchase counseling, once a quarter. In these classes you will learn what life is like as a homeowner, managing utility bills, seasonal home maintenance, and what to do if something goes awry.
In addition to preparing you for purchasing a home, WIN offers a host of classes for financial literacy and economic learning to help keep your finances healthy and happy. With their vast selection of topics, you can learn Credit Management and get the Keys to Financial Freedom, learn to plan your estate and write a will, how to build a savings account, and how to protect yourself from identity theft, with a special class aimed at identifying and preventing common scams of senior citizens.
If you are a renter, don’t worry, WIN has resources for you as well, by providing rental counseling. Through these sessions you can learn how to improve your rental situation and learn what life is like as a tenant and how to manage money and credit.
Through their community building programs, WIN works with community leaders by training and empowering them to work with fellow community members, local and national resources, and local governments to resolve community issues and build thriving neighborhoods. Currently, WIN is working with the Beekman Corridor Community which includes South Cumminsville, Millvale, North Fairmount, and South Fairmount. From community markets, a community garden project, cooking classes, to youth enrichment such as holiday celebrations and camps, WIN works to bring community members together multiple times a month all year long. These things together are what helps make a stable and resilient community, where residents know how to work together and work with local governments to resolve issues.
If you have interest in any of the programs that Working In Neighborhoods offers, there are many ways you can reach out. Find WIN online at www.wincincy.org to register online for classes and find out information on events, or if you would prefer to speak to someone you can call the WIN office at 513-541-4109.