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Orange County reports early gains from Financial Empowerment Center; staff seek sustainable funding

Orange County Board of County Commissioners · January 27, 2026

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Summary

County staff presented first-year results from the Financial Empowerment Center: nearly 400 clients, more than $543,000 nonmortgage debt eliminated, and $330,000 in increased client savings; the county is evaluating sustainability and grant support for year three.

Orange County staff on Jan. 27 updated commissioners on the Financial Empowerment Center (FEC), a program launched with nearly $673,000 in American Rescue Plan Act funds to provide free one-on-one financial counseling and related services to residents and county employees.

Deputy Director Levon Williams told the board the FEC served roughly 400 clients in its first year and completed more than 1,000 sessions, with 284 clients achieving documented financial outcomes: 22% reduced nonmortgage debt, 21% increased savings and 17% opened safe bank accounts. Williams said the program reported more than $543,000 in eliminated nonmortgage debt and more than $330,000 in collective client savings.

Williams said the program’s core services include banking assistance, debt counseling, savings goal-setting and a new legacy-planning offering. Habitat for Humanity of Greater Orlando is the program implementation partner; Williams thanked the partner and said the program offers services in English and Spanish and is planning Creole options.

Commissioners pressed on locations and access; Williams said first-year sites were chosen from county-owned facilities and that staff are negotiating with employers and community partners to host counselors in underserved areas. Commissioner Wilson emphasized the need for outreach to resource deserts and asked that the FEC be positioned where people can reach it without long drives.

Staff said the county received a two-year planning grant from Cities for Financial Empowerment that will allow them to integrate financial empowerment into emergency management outreach, and that year-two funding is about $500,000 while staff pursue additional grants for year three (2027). Williams said staff will return with sustainability recommendations as part of the upcoming budget process.

Next steps: Commissioners asked for more granular location and usage data and promised continued support for expanding access to the program.