LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Louisville Metro Office of Resilience and Community Services (RCS) announced a new collaboration with National Disability Institute (NDI) that provides expanded, free financial counseling opportunities for Louisville residents with disabilities and their families.
RCS was one of two cities nationwide selected by NDI to participate in a new Financial Health Equity (FHE) initiative which focuses on helping people with disabilities manage their budgets, better understand Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits, tackle Social Security Administration (SSA) overpayments and transition to work.
As part of this initiative, more than 20 FHE financial counselors, coaches and other service providers in the Louisville area received over 20 hours of specialized training in effective financial counseling for people receiving Social Security disability benefits. In addition to team members with RCS’ Office of Financial Empowerment, FHE financial counselors and coaches will be located at Louisville’s new Financial Empowerment Center, launched last July, and Apprisen. This non-profit organization provides several financial services.
According to NDI, the poverty rate for adults with disabilities is more than twice the rate of adults without a disability. Furthermore, people of color with disabilities face double marginalization, discrimination and stigma that lead to poor socioeconomic outcomes. Although only 24 percent of the population living in the Louisville/ Jefferson metropolitan area are Black/African American, Black/ African American residents experience disability at the highest rate (16.2%) compared to White (15.9%), Latinx (6.8%), and Asian (5.9%) counterparts. (Source: US Census Bureau, 2020 ACS 5-Year Estimates. Tables B18101A, B, D, and I. Retrieved from United States Census Bureau Search).
The FHE initiative aims to reduce the disparity and wealth gap that exists between people with disabilities and, more specifically, people of color with disabilities.
To learn more about the FHE initiative and to schedule an appointment with a trained counselor or coach, visit the FHE website at: https://louisvilleky.gov/government/resilience-and-community-services/financial-health-equity-project. Sessions will be offered both in-person at various sites as well as virtually or via phone. Accommodations for persons with disabilities are available upon request.
Click here for more Kentucky business news.
