Topeka’s Housing and Credit Counseling Inc. hopes to bring financial stability to single mothers, and on Wednesday, the financial planning nonprofit received $1,200 to make that happen.

HCCI’s Hope Money Club was among nine programs from local organizations that received a total of 40,000 from the Women’s Fund, a donor-advised fund of the Topeka Community Foundation.

HCCI will use the funds for a program that aims to improve financial literacy, said Renee Earwood, director of the HOPE program.

“I would say HCCI is concerned about the financial stability of all households. However, 42 percent of women are either the sole or primary breadwinners for their families, and 78 percent of HCCI Hope clients are women,” Earwood said of the need for financial training for Shawnee County families.

Read more..

Marilyn Stanley has been appointed Executive Director of Housing and Credit Counseling, Inc. (HCCI).  In making the announcement, Robb Cummings, HCCI Board Chair, said, “The board appointed Marilyn as an interim director in December 2016 and the board continues to be very impressed with her leadership during this transition period.  We strongly feel Marilyn is the right person to lead Housing and Credit Counseling, Inc.”

Cummings said Stanley joined the HCCI staff 18 years ago in May 1999 and she comes to the Executive Director’s position with high credentials having served as a certified counselor for nine years and having rotated through all administrative positions at HCCI including work as the Chief Operating Officer since 2008.

Cummings said, “Marilyn has launched major initiatives since January 2017 to implement consumer credit counseling by video-conferencing through partnerships with the Lyon County Extension office in Emporia and the Manhattan Public Library.”  Cummings said Stanley has also facilitated new contract work for HCCI through a Rural Home Loan packaging service benefitting small Kansas communities statewide and as a representative payee for clients of Crosswinds, a counseling and wellness clinic in Emporia.

Stanley said, “My husband, Eric, and I have four children so we understand the financial challenges working families face when they are trying to stretch paychecks to meet monthly bills and also save for the future.”  She said, “Some agencies advertise nationwide that they can fix credit problems with a quick phone call, but HCCI prides itself on being a local, nonprofit agency that Kansas residents can trust to help find long-term financial solutions through consistent budgeting and credit building.”

Stanley and her husband are long-time Topeka residents.  She recently served as a council member for Entrepreneurial and Minority Business Development, a division of Go Topeka.  Stanley is a council member for Topeka USD 501 Family, Community, and Consumer Science faculty that implement the district’s Pathways financial literacy curriculum and monitor how the material presented relates to future job opportunities.  She is HCCI’s representative to business leaders, to city staff and to United Way agencies in Emporia, Junction City, Lawrence, Manhattan, Olathe and Topeka.

About HCCI:  HCCI is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit agency, founded in 1972.  HCCI is certified by HUD (Housing and Urban Development) and is licensed and regulated by the Office of the Kansas State Bank Commissioner (CSO License number 0000003).  HCCI is funded in part by five United Way agencies (Emporia, Junction City, Lawrence, Manhattan and Topeka), by grants from HUD and local governments and private foundations, and by contributions from businesses and individuals.  HCCI is a member of the National Foundation for Credit Counseling and is accredited by the Council on Accreditation.  The Better Business Bureau of the Great Plains named HCCI as the first nonprofit agency in a four-state region to win the BBB Integrity Award for outstanding customer service.

The Topeka chapter of Housing and Credit Counseling announced last week the statewide launch of its successful Take the Opportunity To Own program.

“We’re so excited for this,” said Chris Burk with HCCI. “The Federal Home Loan Bank has been a great partner with us. For Topeka, we’ve been doing this since 1992. Now, we’re doing this statewide. There’s $3,350 available for a future homeowner to use for downpayment or closing cost assistance.”

A family of four earning up to $61,364 annually is eligible to apply for this TOTO Statewide down payment assistance.

“That is the biggest stumbling block is the downpayment,” said Burk. “If you’re looking at $3000 or $4000 needed for a down payment, it’s hard sometimes when you’re renting and paying a high amount for a monthly rent. This is going to help a lot of folks get into homes that never thought they could before.”

Those receiving the grant must complete a free financial counsel with Housing and Credit Counseling that takes about 1.5 hours. Counseling with HCCI helps people establish a budget and plan for meeting the expected and sometimes unexpected costs of home ownership.

“We don’t want to take a really great renter and make them a poor homeowner,” said Burk. “They’ve got to make sure that they’re saving money for those repairs, because it’s going to happen. It’s a matter of whether they can try some of this themselves, or just be aware of just maintaining this investment of theirs, so they can move on to bigger and better things down the road.”

Recipients must also complete HCCI’s free Home Buyer Workshop, or complete an approved free Home Buyer course on HCCI’s website at www.hcci-ks.org. For details or to apply contact HCCI at 1-800-383-0217.

From emerald shirts to green mustaches, thousands of would-be-Irish painted downtown Topeka like a shamrock Saturday while celebrating St. Patrick’s Day.

The day was packed with events, from Mass and breakfast at Mater Dei Assumption Church to the Great Topeka Bed Race and an Irish whiskey tasting, as well as live music and a 5K race. Vince Frye, president and CEO of Downtown Topeka Inc., said Friday organizers expected a crowd close to 30,000 people, but a cool, brisk wind may have kept many inside. With events stretching from the church at S.W. 10th and Clay around the Capitol and along S. Kansas Avenue, an exact crowd estimate wasn’t possible.

Chilled revelers sought hot chocolate at Hazel Hill Chocolate. One employee said business remained steady throughout the day, with as many as 20 people at a time packing into the small shop.

Down the street at The Pennant, 915 S. Kansas Ave., a manager at the door said the newly open business had reached capacity just before the parade began. A short line built up outside for much of the event.

Despite the colder than expected temperatures — the high temperature barely reached the mid-40s though the forecast called for a high of 55 — the crowd may have been one of the largest in recent years.

Parade master Mark Sweeney expected about 125 floats for the 39th annual parade, but more than 250 floats and dozens of walkers filed along S. Kansas Avenue to S.W. 10th and then around the Capitol, making it one of the longest parades to date.

“For the weather we had, with the cloudy skies and the wind, it was one of the best years,” Sweeney said.

http://www.cjonline.com/news/20180317/st-patricks-day-draws-thousands-to-downtown-despite-chill

Just half of teenagers in a new Junior Achievement financial literacy survey list becoming financially independent of their parents as one of their future goals.

While that fact may give parents a moment of shock and concern, it can relate to increasing student loan debt and a weak job market in the past 10 years, said Ashley Charest, president of JA of Kansas. Teens watched as the young adults now in their 20s and 30s struggled after the economic recession with high debt and few job opportunities, and they expect the same challenges in their future.

Three-quarters of teens surveyed in the 2018 JA Teens Personal Finance Survey, which JA conducted with finance and insurance company AIG, cited a future goal of graduating from college, and 50 percent said they will create a savings plan. They are worried about paying for college (54 percent), finding a fulfilling and well-paying job (52 percent), not being able to afford their own home (49 percent) and not having the skills to manage money (42 percent).

To read full story visit http://www.cjonline.com/news/20180412/junior-achievement-survey-measures-teens-financial-concerns

Bestselling author Mary Hunt will coach area women on debt-proof living as keynote speaker at a free all-day October event in Topeka.

Hunt is author of “Debt-Proof Living,” “The Financially Confident Woman” and other personal finance books.

After Hunt’s discussion on, as her book subtitle says, “how to get out of debt and stay that way,” breakout sessions will feature local speakers talking about a variety of money topics.

Those sessions include investing, loan options, credit reports, student loans, renting versus owning a home, wills and mediation for family disputes.

To read full story visit www.cjonline.com/news/20180915/get-out-of-debt-bestselling-author-mary-hunt-to-speak-at-women-amp-money-day-event-oct-6

In accepting the coveted award given to only one outstanding counselor in the United States, Mishra said, “I work with an excellent team at HCCI and I am humbled and honored to represent counselors everywhere who are helping hard working people from all walks of life budget, reduce debt and build credit so they can be financially stable.”

Marilyn Stanley, Executive Director of HCCI, said, “Anju never rushes a counseling appointment.”  Stanley said, “Anju firmly believes that all things are possible with time and consistent commitment to personal goals.  Anju is an excellent role model for other counselors as she makes time to follow back with 100 per cent of the clients she counsels to check status, give encouragement, offer tips for staying on track and compliment incremental but important milestones accomplished toward meeting the family’s financial goals.”

Read full story at http://www.tkmagazine.com/9286-2/

As David A. Jackson sought housing earlier this year, he found few options. He ended up with a roof over his head — at the Shawnee County Jail.

Jackson, 36, wanted to get a two-bedroom apartment, a stipulation that was part of a reintegration plan from the Department for Children and Families. His two daughters had been removed from his custody.

The Topeka Housing Authority denied his application.

THA looks at the past five years of someone’s criminal history. If they have been arrested for one of 24 crimes, they are disqualified, said Trey George, executive director of Topeka Housing Authority, Inc. Most of the offenses are felonies, but a few are misdemeanors. Under U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development policy, an arrest is considered a conviction.

To read full story https://www.cjonline.com/news/20180930/shawnee-county-jail-inmate-housing-challenge-for-those-with-record

Click here to watch the video https://www.facebook.com/WIBWRalphHipp/videos/239729006702229/

Consumers are advised by notices from Housing and Urban Development that any agency offering housing and financial counseling must first employ counselors who are certified by HUD on or before August 1, 2020.  HUD-Certified Housing Counselors are required to pass a proctored examination to demonstrate competency regarding all aspects of budgeting, debt management, credit readiness, Fair Housing Law and rental housing issues, in addition to specific information regarding the home buying process.  Chris Burk, Counseling Program Manager for Housing and Credit Counseling, Inc., said two of HCCI’s Counselors have passed the rigorous HUD examination and other HCCI Counselors are scheduled to sit for the exam this summer.

Burk said, “HUD is strictly enforcing this new rule to help assure consumers have access to skilled and highly knowledgeable housing counselors who are better able to assist both renters and prospective home buyers with a wide range of budgeting and credit issues.”  He said the HUD rule assures counseling agencies such as HCCI are meeting all of HUD’s stringent requirements.  Burk said, “About 70% of the people we counsel at HCCI have student loan debt, medical debt or a combination of both that results in a lower credit score that keeps them from qualifying for an auto loan, rental contract or home purchase.”    Burk said HCCI’s HUD-Certified Counselors are specifically trained to counsel for all types of debt including student loan repayment options, credit building, rental housing issues and home buying.  Burk said, “Many well intentioned agencies offer budget counseling but the important thing is for people to find a HUD-Certified Counselor who is knowledgeable about how people can systematically reduce debt, build credit and save.”  Burk said lenders, especially those offering mortgage loans, will be referring consumers to HUD-Certified Housing Counselors and consumers should ask for HUD-Certified credentials prior to scheduling a counseling appointment.

Marilyn Stanley, executive director of Housing and Credit Counseling Inc., was nominated for and received a Patriot Award in recognition of outstanding support given to the family of a Kansas National Guard soldier during his deployment. The Patriot Award is issued by a division of the U.S. Department of Defense titled Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve.

https://www.cjonline.com/news/20190518/its-your-business-for-sunday-may-19-2019

TOPEKA, Kan. (KTMJ) — Housing and Credit Counseling Inc. of Topeka is helping Kansans through the pandemic by providing free financial counseling and emergency budget strategy.

To read full story https://www.ksnt.com/fox-43/hcci-inc-provides-free-financial-counseling-to-kansans/

TOPEKA, Kan. (KTMJ) — Teresa Baker, tenant landlord & HOPE program manager with Housing Credit and Counseling Inc., says help is available to people who are struggling to make rent payments, but they must act quickly.

To read full story https://www.ksnt.com/fox-43/hcci-advises-renters-at-risk-of-missing-payments/