Financial PEOPLE Project

United Way of Skagit County Financial PEOPLE Project

PEOPLE is an acronym for Peers Empowering Others by Providing Leadership and Education.

By Rita Ordóñez e Financial PEOPLE Project continues to be a powerful way of uniting Skagit County to build a positive and sustainable quality of life. During October-November 2021, Financial PEOPLE Project peer leaders and local bankers held a six-week Zoom nancial education session for students from the Anacortes Family Center, Skagit Habitat for Humanity, Skagit/Islands Head Start, and the Housing Authority of Skagit County. Students learned about budgeting, debt reduction, bank services, credit, loans, and saving for retirement and education. Each student received a binder of materials, an accordion le for collecting documents, and $80 in gi cards.

Fourteen students graduated and received a Skagit Asset Building Coalition certi cate; six received one high school completion credit from Skagit Valley College. On their nal evaluations, all participants said they will use what they learned to improve their nancial situation and share what they learned with others. As a result of taking the course, the majority of students reported they would: • Stick to a budget • Save for emergencies • Review their credit report • Take steps to improve their credit • Avoid payday loans • Pay o debt • Carefully consider the interest rate, monthly payment, and terms for any loan before taking it • Save for retirement

One graduate remarked: “ anks to this class I was connected with someone from Community Action who is helping with some collection issues I have. He is currently helping me get in contact with the Northwest Justice Project to try and get this removed. is is an amazing course to take. I really wish I would have had this class when I was in high school. It would have been a lifesaver. I am actually currently still using the budgeting spreadsheet that was provided in the binder.” e Financial PEOPLE Project has a 74% completion rate; een Peer Leaders and 171 students have graduated since the program began in 2017. Sessions in English and Spanish are planned for February-March 2022. e United Way is currently seeking additional funding to train another group of peer leader volunteers.