Issues surrounding the education, income stability and health of Santa Rosa’s residents are the three key focus areas of the work we do here at United Way of Santa Rosa County.
Based on the amount of phone calls we receive on our First Call for Help hotline, it is clear that many in Santa Rosa are struggling in these key areas. Most callers seek assistance with the necessities of life. Many need help with funds for food, shelter and utility payments.
Karen Amoroso, director of Volunteer Services for UWSRC, says, “When we refer callers to agencies that provide financial assistance, we know for some, the call to us may be the only time they will ever need to reach out for emergency assistance.
“However, for others, the assistance they seek is only a temporary fix. Sadly, many are only one financial crisis away from being unable to fully provide for their families.”
She adds, “It would be great if there was a way to help people learn how to budget and get a handle on their personal finances — especially in these challenging times. Financial education and planning can lead to a way out of poverty.”
This is fantastic advice for people of all ages, including the unemployed, gainfully employed or those nearing retirement. Everyone needs a plan.
It’s hard to know exactly what to do when facing financial realities. Providing for a family, caring for adult parents or dealing with wills, and making any other type of major life decisions are easier to face with financial education and planning in place.
United Way Worldwide and your UWSRC are announcing a brand new, easy online solution that can help get your financial house in order. My Smart Money is a free and safe financial education resource link. This new community service resource is presented and hosted by United Way Worldwide, with funding from the SunTrust Foundation.
My Smart Money can be accessed for free from any personal or public library computer by visiting UnitedWay.org/my-smart-money.
We hope Santa Rosa will take advantage of this comprehensive tool. My Smart Money offers interactive education and simple, useful tips and tools to help anyone, at any financial stage, manage their money better.
Share My Smart Money with your children and they too can learn how to reduce debt, improve credit, build a budget, establish and grow savings, fund college, plan for retirement, and prevent and deal with identity theft.
The quick, easy quiz helps you get a clear picture of your financial situation and where you could improve. Downloadable tools help you tackle your specific money challenges and the checklists help map out a long-term plan.
Another helpful bonus is a featured link on the site, MyFreeTaxes.com, which directs anyone earning $64,000 or less about how to file state and federal income taxes for free.
We’re all in this together, Santa Rosa: visit My Smart Money for smart solutions.
Call Debra Baez at 623-4507 with inquiries about other financial education and planning resources or to arrange a workplace campaign for any number of employees, donate, or volunteer.
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Use this free resource to plan your financial future