You don’t have to figure out your finances alone.

At JFS, we believe everyone in our community deserves the same opportunities for financial stability. Our financial wellness programs provide tools and resources to help people in Greater Hartford get and stay on their feet.

GET BACK ON TRACK

Comprehensive Community Supports (CCS) at JFS is here for you.

Money worries keeping you up at night? Need help with finances, but don’t know where to turn? CCS is free and confidential, and there is no income requirement to participate.

Client Support Specialist Alicia Hernandez, LMSW, a certified financial social worker, works one-on-one with each CCS client to create a personal budget, set financial goals, find resources to help with bills, and develop positive financial habits.

To learn more about CCS, email Alicia or call us at 860-236-1927.

“I never had a budget before working with JFS. Other people just said ‘sit down and write one,’ but that didn’t help someone like me who didn’t know what I didn’t know. Now I have a written budget that’s understandable.”

Financial FAQS

Yes! The Comprehensive Community Supports program is available at no cost to you! JFS is a nonprofit organization that relies on grant funding and community support to make these programs accessible to all who need it.

There’s no income requirement needed to join the Comprehensive Community Supports program. You just need to be willing to work on a personal budget based on what matters most to you.

Our Client Support Specialist will reach out and tell you what to bring. Most new people fill out a short form about their benefits. Be ready to share:

  • How many people live in your home
  • Where your money comes from (job, Social Security, pension, child support, welfare, food stamps, or rent help)
  • Amounts of your biggest bills (house payment or rent, school costs, or loans)

At JFS, we keep all client information private. Our Client Support Specialist is a certified financial social worker.

We store all client information securely. We won’t share your personal information with others unless there is a need and you give us permission.

You can expect to hear back from us within 2-3 business days after you first reach out to us about the Comprehensive Community Supports program. If the program is a good fit for you, we’ll help you create a budget and set money goals that you can work on over 3-6 months. The timeline is up to you!

You need to make an appointment with our Client Support Specialist by email or phone. You can call to check if there’s any same-day availability. You can choose either in-person or online meetings for the Comprehensive Community Supports program.

THE JFS MONEY COACH: PERSONAL DEBT & CREDIT COACHING

The JFS Money Coach is a volunteer CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ who provides expert, one-on-one advice to help clients pay down debt and save for the future.

THE JFS MONEY COACH: MORE INFORMATION

Jim Goldman, AWM, CFP® has been our volunteer Money Coach since 2008.

Jim generously shares his expertise one day a week to help our neighbors build brighter futures, and he has received three Honorable Mentions from the Invest in Others Foundation for this meaningful work.

Money Coach consultations are confidential. You can learn more about your rights as a consumer, how to negotiate with creditors, how much debt is too much, how to obtain a credit report, and how to re-establish credit.

Most appointments take place over the phone, but in-person appointments can be arranged if needed. To schedule an appointment, click the button below, email us, or call (860) 236-1927.

(Note: The schedule is typically updated 2 months at a time. If you don’t see an available appointment in an upcoming month, please check back closer to the date.)

“They meet me where I’m at and remind me of my progress…. They are encouraging and don’t make you feel bad if you have a setback.”