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United Way outlines regional financial security center as commission approves emergency funding for community supports
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Summary
United Way of Northwest Louisiana presented a regional Financial Security Center and financial-literacy efforts focused on ALICE households; commissioners approved distributing existing emergency reserve funds (up to specified amounts per agency) to support relocation, counseling and crisis services after the April 19 tragedy.
United Way of Northwest Louisiana President and CEO Tori Thomas told the Caddo Parish Commission on April 15 that the organization has launched a Financial Security Center offering one-on-one coaching, debt negotiation support, "financial wellness at work" employer pilots, the Dolly Parton Imagination Library outreach and the 2-1-1 connection service. Thomas described the ALICE population (Asset-Limited, Income-Constrained, Employed) and said United Way plans to expand services across the 10 parishes it serves.
Thomas said the organization's financial counseling has produced aggregate results since May 2020, including approximately $3,000,000 in negotiated debt reduction and substantial client savings and credit-score improvement through counseling and bank partnerships. She named bank partners and pilot employers (Anika Federal Credit Union for second-chance accounts; Hancock Whitney for employer-backed loans; Accentek as a pilot employer), and described partnerships with health providers for community needs assessments and expanded two-one-one mental-health referrals, including a warm handoff to 988 when crisis needs are identified.
Following the presentation, commissioners asked for clarifications about the $3,000,000 figure (Thomas said it is aggregate since May 2020), demographic breakdowns (she said ethnicity data exist and will be provided), partner details and program operations. Commissioners thanked United Way for its community services and outreach.
Separately, the commission debated and then approved a motion directing administration to use funds previously appropriated for emergency response (a $350,000 annual appropriation) to provide immediate assistance related to the recent tragedy and other urgent needs. Commissioner Thomas' amendment named several agencies that administration may work with and set a per-entity ceiling for the named agencies ("not to exceed $40,000 each" for named counseling/relief partners) while noting Caddo Community Action Agency (CCAA) may receive a separate allocation as needed. Administrator Bryant said the $350,000 is existing budget authority for emergencies and that administration will vet recipients, set individual eligibility, and reimburse agencies for vetted expenses; she said administration will not exceed the total appropriated amount without subsequent budget action.
The adopted language directs administration to allocate emergency funds to Caddo Community Action Agency and, as needed and vetted, to Moms on a Mission, Hope Connections (safe-haven support), Providence House, Choice Counseling Service, Red River Therapeutic Solutions, Open Arms Behavioral Health and other social-work/professional services, with reimbursement and vetting procedures administered by county staff. The clerk recorded the adoption of the amended emergency-funding distribution with 10 in support and none in opposition.
Next steps: administration will receive direction to vet claims, reimburse approved providers and report allocations and outcomes to the commission; United Way and other agencies will provide requested data (detailed ALICE report and bank/partner lists) to commissioners.
