Consumer Credit Counseling Service Of Delaware Valley

WE CREATE HOPE BY HELPING PEOPLE IDENTIFY AND SECURE THE MOST IMPORTANT ASSETS IN THEIR LIVES.

HOUSING: CLARIFI'S COUNSELORS HELP FAMILIES FIND, SECURE, AND MAINTAIN SAFE HOUSINGAND, IF THEY OWN A HOME, PRESERVE IT FOR THEMSELVES AND THE NEXT GENERATION. CLARIFI'S HOUSING SERVICES SPAN THE ENTIRETY OF THE HOUSING SPECTRUM INCLUDING FORECLOSURE AND EVICTION PREVENTION, PRE-PURCHASE COUNSELING, HOME REPAIR ACCESS, AND TENANCY PREPARATION. CLARIFI'S HOUSING COUNSELORS, CERTIFIED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT, UTILIZE A CASE-MANAGEMENT MODEL TO HELP THEIR CLIENTS ACHIEVE THEIR HOUSING GOALS. DURING INITIAL APPOINTMENTS, COUNSELORS WORK WITH THEIR CLIENTS TO COMPLETE AN INCOME/EXPENSE ANALYSIS, IDENTIFY HOUSING GOALS, AND DEVELOP A WRITTEN ACTION PLAN FOR ACHIEVING SAID GOALS. COUNSELORS ALSO FOLLOW UP WITH CLIENTS AT 30, 60, AND 90 DAYS POST-APPOINTMENT TO CHECK IN ON PROGRESS, RECORD OUTCOMES, CONNECT THE CLIENT WITH ADDITIONAL RESOURCES, AND SCHEDULE FURTHER APPOINTMENTS. RENTAL COUNSELING INCLUDES EVICTION PREVENTION THROUGH LANDLORD/TENANT MEDIATION, LEASING EDUCATION, LANDLORD ADVOCACY (BASED IN SAFE, WARM, DRY STANDARDS), AND LEASING PREPARATION (SAVING FOR DEPOSITS, CREDIT COUNSELING, ETC.) PRE-PURCHASE SERVICES INCLUDE PURCHASE PLANNING AND EDUCATION, PURCHASE GUIDANCE, AND HOMEBUYER GRANT APPLICATION ASSISTANCE. FORECLOSURE PREVENTION SERVICES INCLUDE MORTGAGE DELINQUENCY NEGOTIATION, FORECLOSURE CONCILIATION, EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE APPLICATIONS, AND COURT BASED ADVOCACY IN PHILADELPHIA, MONTGOMERY COUNTY, DELAWARE COUNTY, NEW JERSEY AND DELAWARE. LASTLY, CLARIFI OFFERS ACCESS TO THE RESTORE, REPAIR, RENEW HOME PRESERVATION LOAN PROGRAM, CONNECTING PHILADELPHIA HOMEOWNERS WITH LOW-INTEREST HOME REPAIR LOANS. ADDITIONALLY, CLARIFI'S COUNSELORS MAINTAIN A LARGE REFERRAL NETWORK AND OFTEN CONNECT THEIR CLIENTS TO ADDITIONAL RESOURCES SUCH AS UTILITIES, FOOD, AND CLOTHING ASSISTANCE. IN 2021, CLARIFI PROVIDED 1,264 HOUSING COUNSELING SESSIONS TO 1,195 UNIQUE CLIENTS. OF OUR HOUSING CLIENTS, 103 PURCHASED A HOME, 36 PREVENTED AN EVICTION, AND 146 REPORTED AVOIDING FORECLOSURE OR WERE IN THEIR HOMES WORKING TOWARD A SOLUTION AS OF 12/31/21.

FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT: CLARIFI'S FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT PROGRAM UTILIZES A RELATIONSHIP-BASED, CASE MANAGEMENT APPROACH TO COUNSELING INDIVIDUALS TOWARDS FINANCIAL RESILIENCE. COUNSELORS BUILD LONG-TERM RELATIONSHIPS WITH CLIENTS BASED ON EMPATHY AND TRUST, HELPING THEM SET THEIR OWN FINANCIAL GOALS AND CREATE A STEP-BY-STEP ACTION PLAN FOR ACHIEVING THEM, INCLUDING REDUCED DEBT, IMPROVED CREDIT, AND INCREASING SAVINGS. DURING INITIAL APPOINTMENTS, COUNSELORS WORK WITH THEIR CLIENTS TO COMPLETE AN INCOME/EXPENSE ANALYSIS, IDENTIFY FINANCIAL GOALS, AND DEVELOP A WRITTEN ACTION PLAN FOR ACHIEVING SAID GOALS. COUNSELORS ALSO FOLLOW UP WITH CLIENTS AT 30, 60, AND 90 DAYS POST-APPOINTMENT TO CHECK IN ON PROGRESS, RECORD OUTCOMES, CONNECT THE CLIENT WITH ADDITIONAL RESOURCES, AND SCHEDULE FURTHER APPOINTMENTS. SERVICES ARE OFTEN PROVIDED IN COMMUNITY-BASED LOCATIONS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS CAREERLINK AND CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL OF PHILADELPHIA. THERE ARE NO ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS AND NO LIMITATIONS ON THE VOLUME OF SERVICE PER CLIENT. CLIENTS OFTEN RETURN FOR MULTIPLE FOLLOW-UP APPOINTMENTS. THIS METHODOLOGY INCREASES THE CHANGE THAT EACH CLIENT MAKES POSITIVE BEHAVIORAL CHANGES AND MAINTAIN FINANCIALLY HEALTHY BEHAVIORS OVER TIME, BOTH OF WHICH YIELD STRONG, MEASURABLE LONG-TERM OUTCOMES. IN 2021, CLARIFI PROVIDED 5,732 FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT COUNSELING SESSIONS TO 2,964 UNIQUE CLIENTS. OF THOSE CLIENTS, 153 REDUCED USE OF SHORT-TERM CREDIT, 585 REDUCED UNSECURED DEBT BY 10% OR MORE, 1,956 ESTABLISHED EMERGENCY SAVINGS, 82 ESTABLISHED A CREDIT PROFILE, 959 INCREASED THEIR CREDIT SCORE BY 35+ POINTS, AND 1,601 ACHIEVED AND MAINTAINED CAPACITY TO MEET BASIC NEEDS FOR 90 DAYS.

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT: CLARIFI'S COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROGRAM INCLUDES OUTREACH TO OUR COMMUNITIES THROUGH EDUCATION, COMMUNITY EVENTS AND VOLUNTEER COORDINATION TO INCREASE OUR CONNECTION TO COMMUNITIES WE SERVE AND ENCOURAGE ACCESS TO OUR FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT AND HOUSING PROGRAMS. OUR CERTIFIED FINANCIAL EDUCATORS PROVIDE BOTH IN-PERSON AND ONLINE WORKSHOPS IN A VARIETY OF TOPICS INCLUDING MONEY MANAGEMENT, CREDIT BASICS, CREDIT REPORTING, SAVING, INVESTING, HOMEOWNERSHIP, PREDATORY LENDING, AND FINANCIAL SCAMS. ADDITIONALLY, WE TAILOR PROGRAMMING FOR SPECIFIC POPULATIONS SUCH AS WOMEN, SENIORS, AND RETURNING CITIZENS. IN 2021, CLARIFI PRESENTED 75 FINANCIAL WORKSHOPS FOR 1,550 PARTICIPANTS.