Charleston ASSembly

​Commission Finance & Wealth-Building

 

The C.A. Commission on Finance and Wealth Building is a collaborative effort along with Increasing Hope Financial Training Center. Our goal is to partner with governmental entities, organizations and individuals within the Charleston Tri-County area in order to impact our community together. This agency helps to empower individual and families in the area of financial literacy. People who are disciplined in their finances have a far better chance of accumulating a reasonable amount of wealth that will sustain them for a lifetime. Consequently, this helps to keep them off of government programs and welfare that drains recourses from those who really cannot do for themselves.

 

HISTORY: Increasing H.O.P.E’s Financial Training Center (herein referred to as “Increasing H.O.P.E.”) was launched in 2003 as part of a vision to help people that were struggling with their finances. By 2005, founder and Executive Director, Dorothea Bernique, AFC lead expansion of its reach through the 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization approval and recruitment of a dedicated Board of Directors and Advisory Board committed to creating financial freedom for individuals and families in South Carolina.

 

MISSION: Increasing H.O.P.E. is committed to addressing Community Development by promoting financial stability activities that strengthen neighborhoods, and help individuals move towards greater self-sufficiency and economic growth. By leveraging community partnerships and offering our menu of programs and services, we help distressed homeowners retain their homes, prepare future homeowners, increase access to affordable housing and help families move toward financial stability as habitual savers and investors that are able to maintain financial freedom and build assets. Increasing H.O.P.E. endeavors to offer services in a manner that is not judgmental because our mission is to offer HOPE in a collaborative manner to assist individuals in achieving their financial goals.

 

CURRENT PROGRAMS: The menu of programs offered through Increasing H.O.P.E. employs a diversity of methodologies, from one-on-one coaching, self-study, and web-based applications to offer wrap around services to provide lifelong money management skills. The programs offered include:

 

• Introduction to Financial Freedom Program: Three individual classes that outline the basics to personal financial freedom

 

• Financial Freedom Bootcamps: A six-hour, comprehensive financial training course to address debt, credit, money mindset, savings, financial planning, and budgeting strategies to lead to financial independence.

 

• Homeownership Program: A two-day intensive training program designed to help first-time homebuyers to prepare for homeownership.

 

• H.E.R. Institute (Small Business Program): A six-month comprehensive business training program that provides the basic information to start, manage, and grow a successful and profitable business.

 

• Foreclosure Prevention Program: In collaboration with SC HELP, a comprehensive training program to assist distressed homeowners to retain their homes.

 

• VITA: – Free tax preparation program for low- to moderate-income individuals.

      Increasing H.O.P.E operates as a one-stop educational resource, providing integrated services to help families and individuals         achieve financial stability and build assets. In 2012 alone, Increasing H.O.P.E. has assisted over 1,215 individuals in the tri-               county areas of Charleston, Berkeley, and Dorchester with services ranging from financial counseling to mortgage application         assistance to tax preparation services. The community and economic impact of such services equates to a combined $1.39               million in mortgage assistance and refund dollars that included:

 

a) Training of 642 individuals

 

b) Mortgage assistance of $1 million for tri-county residents

 

c) Tax Preparation Services that resulted in $393,066 in refunds

 

These accomplishments are most notable because of the current economic climate and skill level of those served. As such, low- to moderate-income individuals received outreach, training, and economic empowerment. These individuals also learned the basic skills of financial management that impacted their households and communities and inspired them to make personal and community-wide changes to last a lifetime.

 

http://increasinghope.org/