Financial Health & Wellness
Financial Counseling & Coaching
Whether you've had a foreclosure, want to buy a house, need to get out of debt, or are having a financial crisis, ESOP's Financial Empowerment Coaches can help you set financial goals and make a plan to achieve them.
0% Interest Small Dollar Loan
Our small dollar loans give you the ability to take a small personal loan for your most important expenses without needing to turn to payday lenders.
Benefits Assessments & Application Assistance
The Benefits Enrollment Center can see if you qualify for the benefits available from more than 1,300 federal, state and local programs like help with utilities, food, transportation, housing assistance, and more.
Connecting Our Seniors to Technology
Our free computer classes can help older adults learn how to use the internet safely and confidently with the support of both technological and financial coaching.
Free Income Tax Preparation
We help individuals of all ages prepare their taxes and get their state and federal refunds free of charge. Spanish language services are available!
Matched Savings Program
The Matched Savings Program helps you build emergency savings together with the assistance of our Financial Empowerment Coaches! We will match $1 for $1 up to $500 after 12 months in the program and all of the program criteria have been met.
Medicare Part D Assistance
Our Medicare and Benefits Enrollment Center has helped thousands of Medicare beneficiaries and people age 55 and older in Northeast Ohio and beyond.
Senior Property Tax Loan
Our Senior Property Tax Loan Program provides loans to homeowners age 55 and older to help them pay delinquent property taxes and avoid foreclosure.
Resources
Can You Actually Buy Happiness? Reflections on Emotional Spending
Have you ever felt down and out – and then headed to the mall? Have you ever felt overwhelmed, angry, or isolated – and then cheered up with a purchase on eBay? Do you use shopping as a way to celebrate an accomplishment or recover from a disappointment? Have you ever subscribed to the idea that shopping is a stress-relieving therapy and even cheaper than a visit with a psychiatrist? If so, did shopping in those moments actually make you feel better in the long run?
Read More
Budgeting Tips for Older Adults
We all know how important it is to save money, but sometimes that’s easier said than done. Everywhere we go, there are different demands on our wallet, from weekly grocery trips to exciting new films at the movie theater to self-care treats at the hair salon. Add those expenses to monthly bills, medication costs and gas fill-ups, and it’s no wonder our wallets can end up stretched thin.
Read More
Helping a Loved One Maintain Good Credit
While it’s important for all of us, at any age, to keep our finances in good condition, issues of credit card debt are growing among older adults. If we are caring for a loved one struggling with debt and maintaining good credit, it is important for us to understand credit scoring and how to help a loved one improve their credit so they can better manage debt.
Read More
Recognizing the Signs of Financial Abuse
It is important for all of us to know the signs of financial exploitation so we can help prevent this from happening to our loved ones, such as our parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles or dear friends. There are several warning signs to look for and then to question further.
Read More
Reducing the Financial Fatigue of Caregiving
There are many rewards of caring for a loved one, but caregiving can also come at a cost. According to several studies, the average female caregiver loses more than $324,000 during their lifetime in wages, pensions and Social Security benefits, due to their caregiving responsibilities.
Read More