Person To Person Named As Financial Opportunity Center For Stamford

Information via Person to Person

STAMFORD, CT — Person to Person (P2P), a nonprofit provider of essential services for residents of lower Fairfield County, announced this week that it is Connecticut’s newest and seventh Financial Opportunity Center (FOC).

FOCs provide career and financial coaching as well as income support services to help families living on a low- to moderate-income build sustaining careers and achieve financial success. The P2P FOC is serving the Stamford community.

To secure continued support, long-time P2P supporters Amy and Joe Gold committed to a $100,000 challenge campaign for which every dollar raised from P2P supporters will be matched up to $100,000, doubling the charitable impact to the Stamford community.

"Eighty percent of P2P’s clients tell us they have lost income or have increased debt as a result of the pandemic," Amy Gold said in a news release. "Stamford is now Connecticut’s second largest city where affordable housing availability is low, making it challenging for many of its residents to remain. Access to food, clothing and basic necessities becomes challenging. This is why we are joining forces with P2P to make its FOC a success. Its services are greatly needed to help residents learn to increase their earning power by developing new job skills and to manage and grow their finances."

Joe Gold added: "FOC services are exactly what’s needed to address Connecticut’s alarming labor shortage. Employers are unable to find skilled labor for available jobs, while many residents lack the skills needed to fill those positions. The cost of training and education is a formidable obstacle for many people, as are the associated transportation, childcare and book/fee expenses."

P2P was selected as an FOC by the Connecticut program office of Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC), one of the country’s largest community development organizations.

LISC has a network of more than 130 FOCs across the U.S., embedded in local community organizations that are trusted, known for their history of providing quality services, and convenient to where people live and seek out services.

"P2P is an ideal fit for our FOC model," Jim Horan, senior executive director of LISC Connecticut, said in a news release. "We like that its FOC clients will have ready access to the many other support services P2P provides such as its food pantry, emergency financial assistance program, summer camperships for working parents and a scholarship program."

Initial funding for the P2P FOC is through generous donations from LISC Connecticut; Henry E. Niles Foundation, Inc.; St. John's Community Foundation; and Synchrony Financial.

Trained FOC caseworkers work one-on-one with individuals in three core areas:

1. Employment / workforce readiness. Career coaching and job search assistance including financing for jobs skills training to help clients develop sustaining professions
2. One-on-one financial education and coaching. Teaching clients how to manage their finances to help them build credit, savings and assets
3. Income support services. Connecting clients with income supports such as SNAP benefits, utilities assistance, Medicaid or other healthcare benefits. P2P emergency financial assistance, pantry services, and clothing center will also be available to FOC clients.

"Coming out of the pandemic, many Stamford residents are plagued by credit card and loan debt, punitive interest rates, poor credit ratings, and a lack of savings. This is why our P2P team is honored to serve as an FOC. We’re grateful for the opportunity to help Stamford residents build their economic security," said P2P CEO Nancy Coughlin, in a news release.

"My FOC clients are extremely grateful for this program,” added Patty Obando, a P2P caseworker. "For many of them, it’s an opportunity they can’t pass up, especially in this economy. My clients are motivated to learn and acquire new work skills to provide a better quality of life for their loved ones."

Client participation in the FOC requires a one- to two-year commitment.

To support the $100,000 matching grant, visit click here.

For more information about the P2P FOC, including eligibility requirements, contact caseworkservices@p2phelps.org or call (203) 655-0048.

For more information on LISC FOCs visit https://www.foc-network.org/.