Low-Income Families

​Low-Income Families is one of seven cultivation communities targeted by Kentucky State Treasurer Mark Metcalf through the Financial Empowerment Coalition and Database. The following resources have been gathered from non-profit, business, and government entities focused on improving the financial livelihood of low-income families in Kentucky.

Community Resources

Bank on Bluegrass
Bank On Bluegrass is a community program designed to help individuals open a bank account who have had difficulties getting an account or keeping an account open in the past.

Bank On Henderson
Bank on Henderson offers free, high-quality financial training for clients through community partners. 

Bank On Louisville
Bank On Louisville provides access to a network of mainstream institutions including banks and credit unions who support the financial empowerment efforts in Louisville. 

Community and Financial Empowerment Certification and Training Program
The City of Louisville's Resilience and Community Services' Community and Financial Empowerment Certification and Training Program builds the ability of social service providers or support staff in expanding their own knowledge of personal finance and economic decision-making. Trainings can be taken as individual workshops and are open to any interested social service staff. 

Community Ventures
Community Ventures helps people own homes and start businesses. From affordable financing to education, to neighborhood revitalization, Community Ventures' areas of focus offer the opportunity to dramatically improve the quality of life for people across Kentucky. 

Consumer Advocates
The Federal Trade Commission's Consumer Advocates page includes several resources focused on topics such as money, credit, debt, fraud, identity theft, and immigration. 

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
The CFPB was created to provide a single point of accountability for enforcing federal consumer financial laws and protecting consumers in the financial marketplace. 

Conversation Starters
The North American Securities Administration Association Conversation Starters is a series of open-ended questions designed to help families kick-start an ongoing dialogue about saving, investing, budgeting, and avoiding scams and frauds.

Down Payment Closing Cost Assistance
The Kentucky Housing Corporation provides information about several loan programs to assist buyers with closing costs, down payments, and pre-paid expenses that occur when buying a home. 

FamilyDoctor.org Neighborhood Navigator
This site allows individuals to input their zip code and receive information for resources in their area including doctors, housing, food, and more. 

Family Self-Sufficiency Program
The Kentucky Housing Corporation's Self-Sufficiency Program (FSS) is a voluntary program for people who are receiving housing assistance through the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program administered by the Kentucky Housing Corporation. Participants work with case managers who teach employment skills, money management tips, and homeownership education. 

Financial Resources Center
The Credit Union National Association's (CUNA) Financial Resources Center provides resources including articles, videos, recordings, interactive quizzes and more that will engage and encourage all walks of life to improve their financial wellness. 

Financial Stability--United Way of the Bluegrass
United Way of the Bluegrass is committed to investments in economic empowerment, so that low-to-middle income families have the resources and support to meet needs, weather emergencies, and make investments toward a brighter future. Learn more about United Way programs that support financial education and stability at the link above. 

Free Tax Return Preparation for Qualifying Taxpayers
The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program offers free tax help to people who generally make $54,000 or less, persons with disabilities and limited English speaking taxpayers who need assistance in preparing their own tax returns. IRS-certified volunteers provide free basic income tax return preparation with electronic filing to qualified individuals. 

Goodwill Industries of Kentucky
Goodwill provides jobs, job training, and employment counseling for people with disabilities or other disadvantages, including recipients of public assistance and people with limited education or work history.

Housing Counseling and Education
The Kentucky Housing Corporation partners with non-profit housing counseling agencies across the state to provide housing counseling and education services. Counseling topics include Pre-Purchase/Home Buying, Resolving or Preventing Mortgage Delinquency or Default, Information on Locating, Securing, or Maintaining Residence in Rental Housing, and more. 

Home Buyer Tax Credit
If you plan on buying a home, you may want to consider taking advantage of the Kentucky Housing Corporation's Home Buyer Tax Credit. 

Kentucky Association of Food Banks
KAFB is comprised of seven food banks that serve all 120 counties of Kentucky. KAFB was formed in 2001 to provide food and quality services to increase the capacity of Kentucky's Feed America food banks to end hunger. 

Kentucky Homeownership Protection Center
The Kentucky Homeownership Protection Center was established by the 2008 Kentucky General Assembly to address the foreclosure crisis in Kentucky. It is a statewide assistance program that provides free financial counseling. Some Kentuckians may also be eligible for free legal advice through the Protection Center's partnership with Legal Aid. 

Kentucky Integrated Health Insurance Premium Payment (KI-HIPP) Program
KI-HIPP is a voluntary Medicaid program offered to Medicaid members to help pay for the cost of an Employer-Sponsored Insurance (ESI) plan while maintaining their Medicaid benefits. 

Louisville Asset Building Coalition Resources
Louisville Asset Building Coalition offers free tax preparation services through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program and other financial empowerment programming to individuals and families.

Low-Income College Grants
Provides information about low-income college grants, including who can qualify and how to search for these grants. 

Pass It On
The Federal Trade Commission provides consumer information on scams and basic consumer rights. 

Saving and Budgeting Tips for Low-Income Families
Quicken provides tips on budgeting, tracking expenses, emergency funds, and more. 

U.S. Department of Education Grants
The U.S. Department of Education offers three types of grants: discretionary grants, student loans or grants, and formula grants. 

Financial Empowerment Coalition Contacts

Selina Parrish, Director of Membership
Products and Services
Kentucky Bankers Association 
sparrish@kybanks.com

John Nevitt, Senior Manager
Family Stability
Metro United Way
john.nevitt@metrounitedway.org

Brittany Sims, Program Director
Louisville Asset Building Coalition
brittany.sims@labcservices.org

Re'Donna Thompson, Division Manager
Apprisen
redonna.thompson@apprisen.com