May 2023

Thank you for your participation in the Family Financial Well-Being Collaborative Full Group Meeting. To view the May 2023 FFWB Collaborative Full Group Meeting, click here.

Download Meeting Agenda

Presentation

VCCDC Annual Homeownership Conference

We invite you to attend VCCDC's 11th Homeownership Virtual Conference on Saturday, June 17th from 9am - 1:30pm! Please visit www.vccdc.org/hoc to register! This is a free event for renters and homeowners looking for resources to achieve or maintain homeownership. We will have virtual exhibits, workshops, panels, networking opportunities with lenders, financial coaches, and other industry experts. As part of the event we are also offering our Virtual Loan Center which provides participants the opportunity to receive a loan prequalification from one of our partner lenders. Flyer

Roundtable

Ventura County Public Health

Sara Rivera, Health Equity Manager

Email: sara.rivera@ventura.org

Cell: 805-767-7298

Ventura County Human Services Agency

Sonia Kroth Community, Relations Manager: 805-833-1482

Main Website: https://www.ventura.org/human-services-agency/

The CalFresh Program, issues monthly electronic benefits that can be used to buy most foods at many markets and food stores. The CalFresh Program helps to improve the health and well-being of qualified households and individuals by providing them a means to meet their nutritional needs. See if you or anyone you may know is eligible at https://www.cdss.ca.gov/inforesources/cdss-programs/calfresh/eligibility-and-issuance-requirements.

Medi-Cal renewals are starting June 1, 2023 Medi-Cal members will need to be prepared to redetermine their eligibility to ensure those who are eligible keep their Medi-Cal coverage or help transition them to another type of coverage. If your contact information or household circumstances have changed, please update your information today. This may help you keep your Medi-Cal coverage. Submit your documents and send email messages to report changes: www.vchsa.org/submit Learn more about how to report your changes at: www.vchsa.org/medi-cal or call 888-472-4463, Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m.

Low-Income Fare Discount Program — Metrolink has launched a low-income fare discount program offering a 50% discount on any train ticket or pass with a California EBT card. Metrolink tickets also allow for free transfers on participating transit agencies in Ventura County. Learn more at: https://metrolinktrains.com/ticketsOverview/discounts/low-income-fare-discount-program?fbclid=IwAR0FcZoFg-jmksn0Hm0p82FvtDjqxPTQxoN1U5YakLk9c7oO1fAv3gAU7Tg.

Housing Authority of the City of San Buenaventura

Maegen Laidlaw, Family Self-Sufficiency Program Coordinator: mlaidlaw@hacityventura.org

The family self-sufficiency program that falls under the Community Services at the grant based program to help families build a self-sufficiency and a savings account.

They have been working with the Ventura County Credit Union and Montecito Bank & Trust on providing monthly workshops for their residents.

HACSB lobbies are still currently closed but they are accepting applications for clients to apply to some of the waitlists. If anyone is intrested or knows of someone that may be please click here to access the website.

CA Department of Financial Protection & Innovation

Antonia Villasenor, Outreach Coordinator

Online Crypto Scam Tracker: https://dfpi.ca.gov/crypto-scams/

A company by the name of CFX has been targeting undocumented Spanish speaking communities and asking them for cash. This has shown that moderate income immigrants really want to invest. The DFPI has been looking to put together some investment workshops in Spanish for people would like to learn more about legitimate resources and avoid scams.

Cal Money Smart Grant, is a grant that offers up tp $200,000 for non-profits, to teach communities financial skills and assist unbanked & underbank to get into banking accounts. Future grants are in the works with the focus of helping people with their student debts. Information about CalMoneySmart grants https://dfpi.ca.gov/calmoneysmart/

Gold Coast Health Plan

Lisbet Hernandez, Community Relations Specialists: lhernandez@goldchp.org

Gold Coast health plan members’ continuous coverage is coming to an end. Members need to update their contact information, look out for their written determination packet, and submit all the information to HSA so they can see if they qualify for Medi-Care. GCHP has been doing community outreach to spread the word.

GCHP also has enhanced care management & community support, benefits, and services for members who need additional assistance. That includes people who are at a higher risk or have multiple chronic conditions that are facing adverse outcomes such as homelessness or food insecurity.  GCHP is really working on providing meals and rental assistance for people in these severe situations.

Women’s Economic Ventures

Irene Kelly, Financial Education & DEI Manager: ikelly@wevonline.org

Recently started a Financial Literacy Advisory Group (FLAG) to focus on what resources are available for supporting historically marginalized communities. This group meets on a quarterly basis for an hour. It brings non-profits, financial institutions, and financial literacy advocates, or ambassadors within our communities to identify what are those resources and who can provide them.

WEV has worked with the Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara to piolt financial empowerment groups. These are free monthly offerings for clients that have just gain access to financial education for the first time, and they are needing extra support, implementing what they learned. These groups are expected to expand to an online setting and increasing partnerships with other organizations. The WEV will be hosting a two part, Train the Trainer in June to ensure that leaders can facilitate sessions in English & in Spanish. For more information about getting involved, please contact Irene via email.