1. A Pathway to Social and Economic Inclusion: Financial Empowerment and Problem-Solving (FEPS) Program
Partners:
West Neighbourhood House
Toronto Neighbourhood Centres
Jane Finch Family and Community Centre
Agincourt Community Services Association
Prosper Canada
The Working Centre
EBO Centre

2. Setting the context .

3. The road to FEPS and the early years
Financial literacy and being a newcomer
Financial literacy and adults with low literacy
Parkdale Social Audit
Learn$ave
Cash and Save
Industry Canada
Research
1995
2005
Community Economic Development
Parkdale Banking Project
CUSP
FAPS
Financial Exclusion in Canada
- Community Economic Development and lack of access to credit and financial service for low income community members
Parkdale Social Audit identifies access to financial services as a key community issue
Royal Bank closes Parkdale Branch and Parkdale Banking Project is launched with the financial support of RBC and the participation of all banks in Parkdale
- As cuts to income security programs deepen, St. Christopher House individual and systemic advocacy begins to look not only at increasing incomes but also looks at how to lower expenses
- Learn$ave . A national demonstration project that matched savings of low income families and provided financial literacy training and support. Begin to look at connection between income and wealth (asset) poverty
- CUSP. Community Undertaking Social Policy brings together lived experience, policy experts and community leaders to look at the intersection of income security, tax policy and earned income
Parkdale Banking Project 2.0. Worked with RBC and Bain and Company to design Cash and Save, an alternative option between a bank and predatory (usury) cheque cashing services
FAPS fills the gap between the general knowledge in community services and the specialized knowledge in community legal clinics
FAPS support many networks and organizations as well as taking on research to better demonstrate the financial dynamics of low income persons
GIS
RDSP/TFSP
ISWAA
MISWAA
mystery shopping
financial diaries
financial life histories
regulation and protection

4. The road to FEPS
Consultations /Networks/Coalitions/ Public Education/Policy work
Retiring on a low- income
Provincial and City poverty reduction
Informal Economy & Self-employment
2008
2016
Fragmented funding for program delivery & innovation
Partnership with TNC & replication with JFCFC
TNC project expansion & Replication with ACSA
FAPS name change and partnership with Prosper Canada – 1st Government funding
Replication begins with the new sites
- Community Economic Development and lack of access to credit and financial service for low income community members
Parkdale Social Audit identifies access to financial services as a key community issue
Royal Bank closes Parkdale Branch and Parkdale Banking Project is launched with the financial support of RBC and the participation of all banks in Parkdale
- Learn$ave . A national demonstration project that matched savings of low income families and provided financial literacy training and support. Begin to look at connection between income and wealth (asset) poverty
- CUSP. Community Undertaking Social Policy brings together lived experience, policy experts and community leaders to look at the intersection of income security, tax policy and earned income
Parkdale Banking Project 2.0. Worked with RBC and Bain and Company to design Cash and Save, an alternative option between a bank and predatory (usury) cheque cashing services
FAPS fills the gap between the general knowledge in community services and the specialized knowledge in community legal clinics
FAPS support many networks and organizations as well as taking on research to better demonstrate the financial dynamics of low income persons
Sector Capacity Building/Profile Building/Consulting

5. FEPS Goals and Objectives
Goal: To empower low-income people to make informed financial decisions and improve their financial security and well-being
Increase access to financial entitlements and rights
Increase financial knowledge and capacity
Expand the capacity of services in support of low income communities
Promote a policy and regulatory environment responsive to low income dynamics

6. Systemic Advocacy Service Capacity Building
Direct
Service
Capacity
Building
Workshops for Program Participants
Training for organizations
Income Security
Programs
Basic Banking
Consumer
Advocacy
Tax Returns
Tax Clinics
Debt & Credit
Financial institutions
Pre-paid Money Card
Supporting multi-stake-holder policy development: “Modernizing Income Security Strategies for Working Age Adults”
Financial interests
& experience of people living on a low income
Asset
Change oriented research – financial inclusion, informal economy
Pay day loans
Money Management
& Goal - Setting
FEPS Program Components
One to one
Problem solving
Coalitions and networks
Replication
Public and financial policy

7. Promising practices at the early stages of financial engagement
Pathway Three: Sustaining
Pathway Two: Coping
Pathway One: Stabilizing
Enhancing social engagement
Paying debts and building financial stability
Shifting from ‘survival’ to ‘future’ mode
Building financial capability
Accessing trusted, appropriate money guidance
Relieving financial distress
Deepening motivation to act
Increasing financial literacy
Accessing community services
Making ends meet
Increasing personal agency
Understanding money and priorities
Conditions
Capacity

8. Financial Empowerment and Problem Solving.
“We are like a second social safety net. We help people who have fallen through the cracks of the existing social safety net to gain access to social supports and income entitlements.” (CFW)
FINANCIAL ISSUES
Primary & Secondary
Personal Biography
Status - Immigration Relationship Dependents
Income
Financial Assets
Relationship with Financial Institutions
Legal Issues
Consumer Issues
Personal Health/ Disability
Money- Related Attitudes and Capabilities

9. Other information

10. The FEPS (Financial Empowerment and Problem Solving) Program is generously funded by the Ontario Ministry of Community and Social Services and delivered in partnership with:
These FEPS training materials and support documents created by West Neighbourhood House for the FEPS program.