The City of Sacramento has added the Health Education Council (HEC) as a second partner for its Financial Empowerment Center (FEC) initiative, expanding access to professional, confidential one-on-one financial coaching as a free public service for local residents ages 18 and over.
HEC joins the Sacramento office of the International Rescue Committee (IRC), which has served as an FEC partner since 2020. IRC has provided financial guidance and support on savings, credit, debt, banking access and legacy planning to more than 1,800 local households to date, helping them save over $1.5 million and reduce over $4.4 million in debt collectively, among other achievements.
“HEC’s 35-year history in Sacramento, its strong local network, and its deep understanding of the connections between financial well-being and physical and mental health make it a valuable partner in this work,” said the City’s Financial Empowerment Manager Amy Williamson.
Through this dual partnership, the FEC now has six financial coaches, the highest number yet for the program. Coaches are available to provide services in Dari, English, Hmong, Russian, and Spanish. Both HEC and IRC are also contributing funds to support the program in addition to the City’s investment.
“At HEC, we believe improving health requires strong collaboration and trusted partnerships that bring meaningful resources directly to the community,” said Executive Director Debbie Oto-Kent. “Building sustainable economic well-being for neighborhood residents is a foundation of community health. Through our partnership with the City’s FEC, we are working to help individuals and families build long-term financial stability.”
The City’s FEC operates within the Office of Innovation and Economic Development and is part of a national network of 38 active municipal FECs supported by the Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund. For more information about the national FEC initiative, see https://fecpublic.org/.
Local residents can schedule an appointment with a financial coach online. If more assistance is needed in Dari or English, call 916-808-4927. For assistance in Hmong, Russian, or Spanish, call 916-808-4926.
