In 2008, the mayors of New York City and San Francisco together founded the Cities for Financial Empowerment (CFE) Coalition to collaborate on strategies for helping families in their cities pursue and attain financial stability.This report details the efforts of CFE, which now includes eleven municipalities, to develop innovative approaches and leverage the power of local governments to effect positive change for their citizens.
Champion, Persuader, Connector, Advocate: The Role of Cities in Financial Empowerment
To achieve financial stability, families across America need financial education, access to affordable financial products and services, incentives to save, and consumer protection. The Cities for Financial Empowerment (CFE) Coalition believes local governments can and should take a broader role in developing strategies to solve this issue, leveraging their power to help move their citizens toward a path for lasting financial security.
Findings & Stats
Income and Asset Poverty
16% of families living in the 10 CFE cities do not earn enough income to cover their monthly household expenses; 40% do not have enough assets to survive 3 months at the federal poverty level if their income were interrupted.
Unbanked or Underbanked
Nationally, over 7% of American households have no savings or checking account; in cities, this number rises to 11.3%. The numbers are even higher for Black and Hispanic households or those with total household income under $15,000.
Subprime Credit
On average, nearly 60% of residents in the counties where CFE cities are located have subprime credit and carry more than $12,500 in revolving or credit card debt.
Cost-Burdened Housing Expenses
Half of the households in CFE cities pay more than 30% of their household income toward housing costs, regardless of whether they rent or own their home.
Statements & Quotations
Local elected officials have a largely untapped, but powerful role they can play to financially empower and protect their residents by promoting financial education, asset building and easy and safe access to mainstream banking. By strategically leveraging the unique opportunities inherent in municipal government, including its many enforcement powers, city halls across the country can broadly, swiftly and effectively help move large numbers of people toward financial stability.
– Jonathan Mintz, Commissioner, Department of Consumer Affairs, New York CityCo-Chair, CFE Coalition
Champions of asset building and financial empowerment are utilizing technology, creating new and leveraging existing physical access points, and launching public awareness campaigns to connect residents to the full range of benefits, work supports and tax credits for which they are eligible.
Champions of asset building and financial empowerment are utilizing technology, creating new and leveraging existing physical access points, and launching public awareness campaigns to connect residents to the full range of benefits, work supports and tax credits for which they are eligible.
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