HCCI is sad to report that former employee and longtime friend of HCCI, Hugh Hannagan, has passed away.

Following a long career in banking, Hugh joined the HCCI team in 2006 as a homebuyer counselor. After retiring in 2009, Hugh remained an involved and active participant with the HCCI team and its activities. The self-proclaimed natural Irishman will forever be the Honorary Grand Marshall for HCCI’s annual Great Topeka Bed Race, which is held each year when Topeka celebrates St. Patrick’s Day with a downtown parade.

Hugh died on August 28. His friends at HCCI will always remember Hugh, his great smile, and what a joy it was to be in his company.

In 2016, HCCI has been actively promoting its Employee Assistance Program. The HCCI EAP is a great program for all businesses. When you enroll your business in the program, all of you employees are eligible for free counseling services from HCCI’s professional team on our entire array of financial and housing topics. In addition, HCCI will come to enrolled businesses to present education programs for employees on the financial/housing topics the employer chooses.

Entering September, 14 businesses have enrolled in the HCCI Employee Assistance Program. They are:

In Topeka

• Stormont Vail HealthCare
• Francis Health Foundation
• Family Service & Guidance Center
• Key Staffing
• Network Technologies
• Topeka Housing Authority
• United Way of Greater Topeka
• CWC Electric
• EmCon

In Lawrence

• Lawrence Landscape
• Lawrence Community Shelter
• United Way of Douglas County

In Manhattan

• City of Manhattan

In Emporia

• Emporia Chamber of Commerce

HCCI’s Employee Assistance Program is appealing because employees struggling with financial or housing issues bring those problems to work with them. By providing HCCI’s counseling and education services as an employee benefit, businesses have a valuable tool to help struggling employees. Better yet, proactive counseling and education can help your employees before problems develop.

HCCI wants to be a resource for business, and their workers. So, the HCCI EAP is priced very affordably. Take a look at the annual fee below to provide all your employees free one-on-one financial/housing counseling and education programs at your business.

• For a business with 10 employees, HCCI EAP annual fee is $120 ($7 per employee + $50 administrative fee)
• For a business with 100 employees, HCCI EAP annual fee is $750 ($6.50 per employee + $100 administrative fee)
• For a business with 1,000 employees, HCCI EAP annual fee is $4,750 ($4.50 per employee + $750 administrative fee)

When you enroll, HCCI will help you tell your employees about how they can schedule counseling appoints, help you identify and plan education opportunities at your business, and will let you know about employee use of this benefit on a quarterly basis. You can learn more about HCCI’s Employee Assistance Program by following this link (http://hcci-ks.org/employee-assistance-program). To visit with someone about the program and to enroll your business, contact HCCI’s Terry Leatherman (tleatherman@hcci-ks.org or (785) 234-0217 ext. 208.

Women of all ages are invited to enroll in the Women & Money Classes to be offered in Topeka and Overland Park. Classes begin on September 19^th in Overland Park and September 22^nd in Topeka (full schedule of classes and speakers linked below). Women & Money classes are presented by Housing and Credit Counseling, Inc. (HCCI) in partnership with Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library and Johnson County Library. Presentations are designed for all women who want to manage their personal finances well, pay down debt, save and invest.

Registered participants will get worksheets and tips from HCCI Counselors about how to stick to a budget, how to read their credit report, and what prospective lenders, employers and landlords learn from seeing credit scores and credit reports. Local attorneys will present a class about why women need their own will and durable powers of attorney for both health and financial decisions. Special guest speakers from the Kansas Securities Commissioner’s Office will speak on investments and fraud. Staff from the Office of the State Bank Commissioner of Kansas will talk about consumer and mortgage loans, and consumer protection regulations. Kansas Legal Services will address Social Security questions.

To see videos on these topics and what will be covered in Women & Money, watch these videos.

Enrollment is free for both locations but registration is required for materials. Each participant will receive a bound handbook, canvas tote bag and other goodies.

To enroll in the classes or webinar contact HCCI at 1-800-383-0217 or go to www.hcci-ks.org.

Schedule of Classes and Speakers: Topeka & Overland Park

Women & Money classes are primarily sponsored by a grant from the Office of the Kansas Securities Commissioner and by contributions from local sponsors.

Women & Money classes were developed by HCCI with recommendations from a Planning Committee of women.  Invited speakers are professional women who are experts in their fields of finance, investments, education, law, social security, and family social services.

While public school and college students made their way back to the classroom in August, HCCI has been gearing up for a busy and varied month of education programs in September. Tonight at the Topeka Public Library, HCCI will center on the ever-growing issue of medical debt and explore consumer options. Mid-month, HCCI will help people pursue the American dream of homeownership with its first time homebuyer class. Later in the month, HCCI’s acclaimed Women & $ event kicks off in Topeka and Overland Park. Women & $ provides women attendees an array of personal financial management lessons over a five week period.

All of these programs are free and open to the public. Please take a look at these offerings and let your relatives, friends and co-workers know about these great educational opportunities.

• Got Medical Debt?
  Written by: HCCI’s Renee Earwood

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) reported in January that 1 in 5 people in the US will be contacted by medical debt collectors this year and they will collect $21 billion in total from consumers with medical debt. Dealing with debt can be an emotional roller coaster for people who are already suffering with health issues or unexpected emergencies. Because so many clients are struggling to pay medical bills regardless of health insurance coverage, HCCI’s HOPE Program is offering a free panel discussion with local experts to discuss repayment options available on Tuesday, September 6th at 6pm at the Topeka Shawnee County Public Library’s Marvin Auditorium. Read More…

• What 1^st Time Homebuyers Need to Know
  Written by: HCCI’s Chris Burk

A free workshop for first time homebuyers is scheduled for Saturday, September 24th from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at HCCI. Interest rates are still low for a 30 year mortgage and it is a great time to buy. The goal of the class is to help the first time homebuyer learn all aspects of the buying process. We want our future homeowners to make good choices, and find a place that they can truly afford. We will go over budgeting, credit reports, and what to look for in shopping for that dream home. Read More…

• Women & $ Returns to Topeka & Overland Park
  Written by: HCCI’s Megan Stanek

Women of all ages are invited to enroll in the Women & Money Classes to be offered in Topeka and Overland Park. Classes begin on September 19th in Overland Park and September 22nd in Topeka. Women & Money classes are presented by Housing and Credit Counseling, Inc. (HCCI) in partnership with Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library and Johnson County Library. Presentations are designed for all women who want to manage their personal finances well, pay down debt, save and invest. Read More…

By the way, HCCI provides education presentations on a vast array of financial and housing topics. Consider how your business or civic group might benefit from having an HCCI educator provide vital information on topics like student loan repayment, helping renters know their rights and their responsibilities, or understanding your credit score and why it matters. HCCI requests a reasonable fee to cover our costs and expenses.

You can learn more about HCCI’s educational offerings at our website or by contacting HCCI by email or phone (785-234-0217).

HCCI is looking forward to helping people interested in pursuing their dream of home ownership on a less traveled road.

HCCI has been approved to be a subcontractor for Little Dixie Community Action Agency, assisting people seeking a Rural Direct Home Loan. Rural Home Loans is a program administered by the US Department of Agriculture. If a person meets the income and other program requirements, they can purchase a home at very favorable terms in communities where the population is less than 35,000 people. Those favorable terms generally include requiring no down payment, up to a 33 year payback period, and at a fixed interest rate which can be modified to be as low as 1%.

HCCI will serve as a packager, meaning we will help individuals understand if they qualify for the USDA program and to complete the necessary paperwork to apply for the program. HCCI will also provide the quality homeowner counseling services it has for years, helping the potential homebuyer plan and budget in order to successfully secure and maintain a home. This often involves helping people improve their credit score. In order to participate in the Rural Direct Home Loan program, participants will need a credit score of 680.

You can learn more about the USDA’s Single Family Housing Direct Home Loan Program at this website (http://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/single-family-housing-direct-home-loans).

For more than 20 years, HCCI has been helping low income people in Topeka become homeowners through the Topeka Opportunity to Own (TOTO) Program. TOTO Partners include FHLBTopeka, the city of Topeka and several Topeka area financial institutions (Capitol Federal Savings, Capital City Bank, and Community Bank).

HCCI’s Board of Directors is conducting its annual letter writing campaign, where they reach out to people to tell them about the work of HCCI and to urge them to make a donation to our organization.

HCCI’s mission is to counsel and educate all people so they can achieve their personal housing and financial goals. Your donation helps HCCI be able to assist everyone who turns to us for help. A simple way to support HCCI is to go to our donation page on our website (http://hcci-ks.org/donate). If you, or your company, have not given to HCCI in 2016, please make your donation today.

Housing and Credit Counseling, Inc. is a proud member of the National Foundation for Credit Counseling, the nation’s oldest, largest and most respected nonprofit financial counseling and education support organization. During the last week of September, NFCC gathered its membership in Washington D.C. for its 51^st Annual Conference. HCCI’s Chief Operating Officer Marilyn Stanley represented HCCI at this year’s 3-day Conference.

One of the annual highlights of the NFCC Conference is the “state of the credit counseling and financial education sector” report by the NFCC’s President and CEO, Susan Keating. In her address, Ms. Keating outlined a new strategic plan that is under development, which will focus on three key areas: cultural transformation, business model transformation and client service innovation. She also reviewed NFCC’s work to launch its Student Loan Counseling Program, to implement the NFCC Credit Solution Plan to help clients with extensive debt, and to support housing counseling services.

Follow this link to review the entire State of the Credit Counseling and Financial Education Sector address by NFCC President & CEO, Susan Keating.

Women and Money has started in both Overland Park and Topeka. While there have been three classes in Overland Park and one class in Topeka, there is still time to sign up for the remaining classes.

Classes began in Overland Park on September 19th. Participants heard from HCCI Housing and Credit Counseling Supervisor, Chris Burk for the opening night, and again on September 26th. On October 3rd, Jennifer Cook, Deputy Director, Division of Consumer & Mortgage Lending at the Office of the State Bank Commissioner, led discussion surrounding borrowing, loans and credit. The classes have been well attended, with an average attendance of 52.

Topeka classes started on September 29th with a panel discussion moderated by Kathleen Urbom, a local attorney and member of HCCI’s Board of Directors. Additional panel speakers included Brigadier General Deborah Rose and Marsha Pope, President of the Topeka Community Foundation. 46 participants heard the diverse ways that these woman learned about their relationship with money and the struggles they had on their path to becoming successful women in the community.

There are remaining classes available for both locations, to include a class on investing and wills/end of life planning. For full details, please visit http://hcci-ks.org/programs/educationalevents/women-money.

Motorcycle Mary, aka Mary McCune, will roar into the Kansas Children’s Discovery Center, 4400 SW 10th, Topeka, on Saturday, Nov. 12, to deliver her straight-talk money-management seminar for active and retired military veterans and their families. The free day-long program has been developed by the Adjutant General’s Department, Kansas National Guard, Housing and Credit Counseling, Inc., and the Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library.

“We have planned this very special day to honor all of our service members,” said Col. Mike Erwin, special assistant to the adjutant general, “so we invite active duty, retired military personnel and our new recruits to join us for a great day of fun and learning.” Military service members and their spouses will hear Motorcycle Mary give a laugh-filled workshop from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. that is part stand-up comedy routine, part cautionary tale, and part nuts-and-bolts training on how to manage your money to get what you want out of life. A concurrent program developed by the children’s librarians at the Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library will offer crafts, stories and games for children of military personnel. Free daycare will be provided by Capitol City Nannies for toddlers and infants.

Military families can choose to attend additional free afternoon breakout sessions and also have fun exploring the Kansas Children’s Discovery Center’s many hands-on exhibits and play areas at no charge. A continental breakfast and lunch will be provided at no charge. Volunteers from American Legion Post #421 are assisting with the day-long activities. Door prizes, including free dinners, hotel stays, household items and movie tickets, will be given by area businesses supporting this event.

Erwin said the Kansas Discovery Center was selected as a great place for kids to be entertained while their parents can enjoy McCune’s real-life message of how she pulled herself out of financial failure after four marriages and now rides a road of successful money management and financial freedom.

McCune gives her audience a taste of what it felt like when, at age 42 with three kids to feed and struggling to pay rent, she grabbed a bar cocktail napkin and scratched out a list of five things she needed to change if she wanted to turn around the downward spiral of her life. One goal on
that napkin read “Your finances are a mess, and you need somebody to help you.”

“My life experience can help anybody who is trying to keep a little more of their hard-earned money in their pocket,” says McCune. “What I teach  affects people at every income level. It doesn’t matter how much money you make. If you can’t control it, you haven’t got squat.”

“Mary took charge of the money she had – which wasn’t much – and turned her life around by simply getting her priorities straight,” said Chris Burk, supervisor of Financial Counseling at HCCI.

Burk said HCCI is glad to offer this special day-long free event to honor military service members on the Veterans Day weekend. Burk said afternoon breakout sessions will include a presentation by attorneys and other staff at the Kansas Securities Commission about investing to pay yourself first, how to gauge your risk tolerance for asset allocation, and how to analyze stock offerings through websites such as Morningstar.

Erwin will lead a breakout, titled “DS for Your Dough,” about dumping debt and building cash flow. Retired Brig. Gen. Deborah Rose will present a breakout about how she and her husband, retired Col. Joe Rose, lived on a “cash only” basis in their early years.

The event is free for military personnel, but registration is required to reserve space and meals for adults and kids. Register at www.jointservicessupport.org/info/40J678. For information call HCCI at 800-383-0217 or go to www.hcci-ks.org.

Written by Cherie Stueve, MBA, CPA (inactive), who has extensive knowledge and experience regarding financial counseling, and is a longtime volunteer financial mentor for participants in the HCCI HOPE Program. . Reprinted with permission.

Time to start planning for gift-giving that truly embraces your family’s reason for the season and doesn’t leave a credit card hangover in January. Don’t let the spirit of shopping bring you down emotionally or financially this year. There are many creative ways to celebrate the holidays and let the important people in our lives know we care and appreciate them.

Be proactive early in the year 

The cycle:  Do you have that family member or friend that always remembers you with a wonderful gift every December causing you to feel obligated to send something too – even if your budget is tight or you have no idea what to give them?  Year after year you dread the search for the reciprocal gift.

Consider sending a sweet note now to stop the spending-giving cycle.  Mention how you always delight when you hear the pretty wind chimes they sent last year, but this year your family feels so blessed and wants to exchange warm wishes & updated pictures only.

Your friend may secretly appreciate your idea to take the burden off of them, too!  If your great aunt Ginny continues to insist on doing “something” for you, let her know you are limiting your gift list this year and mention your favorite charity as an option.

Secret Santas: Your small group, workplace, or gal pals draw names every year.  One gift for this group and one gift for that group can add up in money & shopping time.  Is your gift from last year still on display or being used?

Suggest early that Christmas be a little different this year.  Everyone can bring a white elephant item from their house for a gift-swapping game while you sip eggnog and sneak another piece of fudge.  There are various themes you can use like everyone brings a piece of jewelry they no longer wear, a scarf, a homemade treat, or a dusty kitchen gadget.  The laughs come from the surprises inside the pretty paper and the swapping. Go a step further and have a fun raffle of white elephant items with the proceeds supporting a local charity or other agreed-upon organization.

Growing families:  The baby that squeezed the stuffed toy with delight, the preschooler that got lost in picture books has grown into a teenager wearing brands you don’t recognize and listening to songs that are downloaded from the computer.  Parents have a tough time with their own growing children’s interests and sizes.  Christmas at Grandma’s has turned into an exchange of gift cards to the mall or electronic’s store.  Talk to you siblings about surrendering to the ever-changing trends and not trying to buy for nieces and nephews. Suggest exchanging board games that are collecting dust in your closet for a refreshing change on the next snow day.

Cashless Gifts-The thought counts 

Christmas is not only a time to gather with family and candlelight services, but also a time to show appreciation for those that make your life a little better or serve you in some way during the year. 

Teachers:  Teachers touch our children’s lives in important ways.  A handwritten Thank You note from you and your child will be treasured more than another apple ornament.  Go one step further and write a formal letter of appreciation to the school principal, detailing the wonderful things the teacher does every day. 

Service providers: Everyone appreciates a thoughtful note, letting them know they do a great job.  Write a personalized card to those that make your days easier and send a professional letter to their supervisor to include in their personnel file. 

Projects of Christmas past: Got a few projects that didn’t make the December 25^th deadline?  Find that shoebox full of materials and finish the projects for this year.  You receive the gift of space while your friend receives a one-of-a-kind homemade gift. Host a UFO (UnFinished Object) party with other crafty friends now. 

Food:  Everyone loves food.  The simplest cookies on a plate with your handwritten Christmas card makes a wonderful gift.  While your friend is frazzled from a hectic holiday routine, she can recharge with a sweet treat and a cup of tea. Your famous candy is a universal gift for anyone you want to remember, even if you don’t know their shirt size or favorite perfume. The dry cleaner that has your order ready as soon as they see your car, the dependable school bus driver, and the guard at your workplace will feel special with a homemade goodie box. 

Time is Priceless 

Friends and family value your time and attention most of all, whether they voice it or not.  Think of ways to share your precious time in the upcoming year. 

Children: Make up coupons for family time fun like playing a favorite game, making a yummy recipe, creating a Saturday special breakfast menu, or picking wildflowers in the spring. The internet has loads of crafty project ideas and instructions for one-on-one time together during school breaks or weekends. 

Friends: Give your friends coupon for two hours of deep cleaning help, yard work, babysitting, or rides to appointments for a senior neighbor. 

Aging family: The eldest are sometimes the hardest to buy for if they are limited in their abilities or living space.  While visiting my Mama, I could see the typical gifts of perfumed lotions, candles, picture frames, etc. that cluttered up small rooms at the nursing home.  Your grandmother will cherish a long letter of your memories of her baking in the kitchen, planting flowers together, or the Barbie clothes she sewed after a long day at work – and she will treasure & read your letter over and over again.  Let her know whenever you make cinnamon rolls from her recipe, you think of her. 

A wonderful coupon for a distant relative can be more frequent phone calls next year.  Set up a day that normally works for you like the first Sunday of the month and call.  Your grandpa will be so thrilled it will make the calendar!  Another idea is your commitment to more emails, letters, and pictures of ever-changing children. 

Many seniors want to jump into the computer age, but need a patient tutor.  Your gift of time could be weekly lessons on how to use the internet and email.  Grandpa wants to laugh at the kittens on You Tube, too! 

Bring back the Christmas Fund 

Even after trimming down your list, there are probably still a few people on your shopping list. Many years ago, your local bank encouraged savings each month for the expenses of December.  Start your own Christmas Account savings account or cookie jar at home by:  

• Recycle your cans and bottles for the CRV value
• Sell your old and broken jewelry for cash
• Use ebay or craiglist to sell unwanted items that still have value
• Exchange your coins for gift certificates at any designated CoinStar machine
• Offer to babysit for young parents who can use the time to bake or shop
• Take a part-time seasonal job when the shops needs more holiday help
• Set aside a small amount each paycheck in the new year for next year’s smaller shopping list 

Be a voice of change for your family, friends, and neighbors this holiday season.  In January, reflect back on what worked and what didn’t work for you.  Make a plan for next year to stay within your budget, but also make the holidays a special time and filled with memories, not credit card statements.

Think back to last December 26^th and what you wish would happen differently next year.  Next year is here – and you can help not only yourself, but your family, friends & co-workers, have more fun this holiday season without the dread of January’s credit card statements.

Housing and Credit Counseling, Inc. is having a remarkable year. HCCI has already surpassed its year-long goal for rental housing and homebuyer counseling, and is on pace to reach its goals for financial counseling. For education classes and participants, the rental housing team has obliterated its 2016 goals, consumer credit has reached this year’s goal and homebuyer education is on pace to reach goals. Women & Money is wrapping up extremely successful education events in Kansas City and Topeka. Not only are our numbers great, the quality of HCCI’s counseling and education is outstanding.

You can help HCCI give hard-working people the guidance they need by making a contribution now to help sponsor HCCI’s financial literacy counseling and education programs. You can do so online by following this link (www.hcci-ks.org/donate) to the HCCI website. Or, make out a donation check to HCCI and mail it to HCCI, 1195 Buchanan, Topeka, KS., 66604.

HCCI turns no one away who seeks us out for help with their financial struggles or housing challenges. Your financial support allows us to be there when someone turns to HCCI for help.

Across America and throughout Kansas, the number of people and the amount they owe on student loans keeps on growing. Now, HCCI has more certified counselors who are ready when people turn to HCCI for help with their student loan challenges.

In late October, HCCI certified counselors Sandra Zepeda and Rogers Brazier learned they had achieved certification as Student Loan Repayment Counselors from the National Foundation for Credit Counseling. They join HCCI’s Renee Earwood in achieving this NFCC distinction. Renee was a member of the inaugural class a year ago to achieve student loan counselor certification.

If you, or someone you know, has questions regarding their student loan obligations and wants a clear picture of their repayment options from an informed and unbiased source, point them towards HCCI for help. We now have a team of certified professionals ready to help.

Soon, clients will be able to experience HCCI counseling services in a whole new way. In December, HCCI will open its first “virtual office” in Manhattan, with additional offices planned in the coming weeks.

Besides being able to see each other and converse via computer connection, the HCCI counselor will also be able to pull up and complete documents, such as budget preparation sheets or a person’s credit report, during the virtual counseling session.

For many years, HCCI has conducted counseling by telephone with clients who could not attend a counseling session in person. In the past year, HCCI has been promoting an internet conferencing option, where clients can use the internet in their home for a remote counseling session. The “virtual office” is another option to make it easy to help people who could benefit from HCCI counseling services.

The “virtual office” promises to be an exciting new direction of service delivery on a number of fronts. First, partnerships will be forged with the businesses and service providers who open their doors to HCCI to establish a virtual office in their building. HCCI Virtual Office partners provide a private office within their location, staff assistance to welcome clients and get them connected through the internet with an HCCI Counselor for the 1.5 hour counseling session.  HCCI provides the equipment and counseling at no charge to partnering agencies.  Second, establishing a “virtual office” will be an opportunity for HCCI to have a presence in communities where HCCI does not have an office staffed by HCCI personnel. 

HCCI looks to begin scheduling appointments from the Manhattan virtual office location soon. Later this month, HCCI hopes to open a second virtual office in Overland Park, which will establish our entry into the Kansas City financial counseling marketplace. In addition to Manhattan and Kansas City, HCCI hopes to open a virtual office in Emporia soon.

The calendar has turned to December, and the Christmas season is upon us. During this season of giving, here is a giving idea to consider.

First, follow this link (http://hcci-ks.org/donate) to the donation page on the HCCI website. Then, use the donate button to make a donation to HCCI. Any amount is appreciated, but you might consider making your donation in $45 denominations. Here’s why.

HCCI charges $45 for a financial counseling session. However, HCCI will never turn someone away from receiving the counseling they need because they cannot pay the fee. As a result, your donation can help HCCI be there when someone turns to us for help.  Obviously, a $45 donation will pay for one person to receive a counsel, but we would welcome you to assure two people receive counseling services with a $90 donation, or 10 people with a $450 donation. If you would rather send us a check in the mail, we would welcome your contribution. Just write “for free counseling services” in the memo line of your check.

Thank you for considering making a donation to HCCI during the holiday season. Your financial support means HCCI can help more people reach their personal housing and financial goals.

This marks the 8^th year HCCI has offered Women & Money classes in partnership with the Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library (average attendance was 50 per class) and the 3^rd year in partnership with the Johnson County Library (average attendance was 59).  Classes included budgeting, credit reports, borrowing, investing and wills/end of life planning.  Women attending consistently report the classes  empower them to be financially independent.  Women & Money is funded by a grant from the Kansas Securities Commissioner’s Office and by other sponsors.  For details contact HCCI.

Some comments from participants included:

• Thank you for this wonderful, informative series. I have recommended this to my friends.
• I am so glad I took this class. All the information was very good and necessary. I truly believe it will help me manage my money better. I was excited to come to all the classes! Every woman can gain knowledge from this class.
• I thoroughly enjoyed the five sessions I attended. I am retired but working part time. My home is paid off and I have zero debt other than my monthly utilities, food, fuel, etc. I wish that I had attended this in the 90s.
• Thank you. This has been very helpful to me. It gives me hope and greatly lessens anxiety. I am grateful.
• I think classes like this are VERY useful and helpful. Women need to know they can be financially independent. Education is power.
• Thank you so much for all these classes. I’m new in this country and this help me a lot. Now I can talk with my husband about money, budgeting, banking, investing, wills.
• Very glad I attended. Well put together and I appreciated how much this series and program helped. Thank you!

The Board of Directors of Housing and Credit Counseling, Inc. (HCCI) announce the appointment of Marilyn Stanley as the interim Executive Director of HCCI effective December 15, 2016.  Robb Cummings, Chair of the HCCI Board, said “the board and staff are very happy to have Marilyn accept this position.”  Cummings said Stanley has been with HCCI since 1999, was a certified counselor for nine years and has rotated through all positions at HCCI including work as the Chief Operating Officer.  Her responsibilities have included assisting former CEO’s in managing the agency’s budget, developing budgets for grant applications, monitoring and reporting the agency counseling outcomes, and work related to developing HCCI’s Strategic Plan.  Messages may be sent to Marilyn at mstanley@hcci-ks.org or 785-234-0217 x 312.

Since 2009, Stanley has been responsible for the agency’s national accreditation review and status and for work related to HCCI’s approval through Housing and Urban Development (HUD).  Stanley coordinates the review of HCCI’s services by the Office of the State Bank Commissioner that regulates HCCI and has final authorization power of HCCI’s approval to do business in the State of Kansas.

Cummings said, “HCCI was founded in 1972 and has a long history of work in Topeka, Lawrence, Manhattan and Emporia.”  He said HCCI is in the process of launching a new service offering FaceTime video-counseling for people living in Emporia and Manhattan that uses an internet connection to conveniently offer counseling through an on-line video and audio connection.

Stanley said HCCI is best known for its national award winning consumer credit counseling, rental housing counseling and education programs and first-time homebuyer programs.  Stanley said, “I have enjoyed working with everyone at HCCI for the past 17 years and I am truly honored to have the opportunity to lead HCCI’s great team.”

Stanley said, “In 2016, three HCCI counselors were nationally certified to counsel about student loan debt repayment.”  She said HCCI’s Board of Directors has focused HCCI’s work on collaboration with the business community as well as the nonprofit sector and that HCCI is funded to initiate innovative United Way financial stability projects in Emporia, Junction City, Lawrence, Manhattan and Topeka.

HCCI lists a few easy tips to help Americans achieve financial success in the new year.

HCCI is sharing some advice for consumers who are facing another new year with budget and debt concerns. A recent survey by Fidelity Investments revealed that more than a third of Americans intend to make a financial resolution for 2017.

“Financial resolutions are often hard to keep,” said Renee Earwood, HOPE Program Director, with HCCI. “The key to success is understanding what you owe and having a workable plan to reduce debt.”

To help make those first steps toward a financial resolution a little easier, HCCI offers the following advice:

• Review

Take time in the beginning of the year to start a thorough financial review. This should include all income, expenses, debts and savings. The more often a budget review takes place, the easier it becomes. If it has been a while since the last review, restarting the process may seem daunting but the longer it is put off, the harder it becomes to get started.

Now is the best time to turn things around and get back on track toward financial goals. The best news is that help is available if and when it is needed.

• Reset

Time is the biggest enemy when debt is piling up and budgets are broken. Starting the new year with high debt leaves little to celebrate. Acting quickly to address these problems can help make it easier to recover financially. It is like pressing a reset button. The key to success is knowing what options are available, and making informed choices based on the facts. Learn more about personal financial management using online educational resources or reach out to a trusted financial advocate for guidance.

• Put Debt In Its Place

If debt is getting in the way of life, start the year on the right foot by putting debt in its place. Focus on the accounts that are charging the highest interest rates and start power paying the balances until they are gone. The faster debt is retired, the more money can be saved on interest and fees over the long term. That means more cash for savings and important financial goals. When debt problems are more serious, involving past-due balances and debt collection, it’s time to reach out for help from a nonprofit credit counselor who can offer expert guidance that may include a plan for affordable debt repayment.

Financial goals are important, so give them the time and attention they deserve. Putting a plan in motion this year can make all of the following years even better. For help making those goals a reality, speak to an NFCC certified counselor with HCCI. To get started today, call 800-383-0217 or visit www.hcci-ks.org.

Welcome to the April Real Estate 101 Information Minute. This month Karey is visiting with Chris Burk from Housing and Credit Counseling (HCCI). In today’s episode, Karey and Chris are discussing your credit score. What is a credit score? Why does it matter? Who reports about it? Learn more…
If you need help with your budget contact your HCCI at 785-234-0217

Welcome to the Friday edition of Real Estate 101 Information Minute – in today’s episode, Karey and Chris, HCCI are discussing FICO Scores and how to set a budget. Learn some reasons you might seek their help.

Welcome the Monday edition of Real Estate 101 Information Minute. In today’s episode Karey and Chris, HCCI are discussing ways to get out of debt. When you are in financial trouble a 3-5 year debt management plan maybe needed. But like all things rebuilding your credit will take time.
For help from HCCI contact them at 785-234-0217