North Seattle Community College Foundation

Programs: Consumer credit counseling program to assist financially distressed individuals gain control of personal financial situations through education and individually tailored solutions. Net revenues are available at the discretion of the board to fund the foundation's financial and programmatic support of the college. Credit counseling - american financial solutions (afs) helps clients free themselves from the anxiety and stress of credit, debt and financial worries by providing credit counseling, financial education and debt management services that put clients in control of their financial success. 7,954 clients were counseled in a confidential, one-on-one counseling session, where certified credit counselors help assess clients' situations and identify options to manage and pay off debts. There is no charge for counseling or education services. Debt management plans - one of the options available to clients who are struggling with repaying unsecured debt is a debt management plan. A debt management plan is a way to consolidate credit and unsecured debt into one monthly payment that fits within a client's budget, allowing repayment of debts more quickly over time than would otherwise be possible. Charges apply to enroll in debt management plans but fees are waived in cases of financial hardship. These fees are regulated by the 50 states in which afs is licensed and by industry guidelines developed by non-profit credit counseling agencies. 3,232 debt management plans were entered into during the fiscal year. Home foreclosure counseling - afs is a sub-grantee of the washington state housing finance commission, a hud-approved housing counseling agency. Afs offers assistance to clients to help them try to avoid the loss of their homes. In confidential, one-on-one counseling sessions, 145 clients were offered help by afs counselors who assess their situations, inform them of options and work directly with their lenders to try to find solutions that will work for the client. Mortgage counseling sessions are offered free of charge to clients. Home buyer counseling - afs assists clients to prepare for home ownership by assessing their income, assets, monthly expenses and debt. Our counselors help clients understand the lending process and determine what they can borrow, establish goals for saving for a down payment and inform them of down payment assistance programs in the local community. Our housing counselors will assist with preparation of a home budget including expenses related to the home such as utilities, maintenance, taxes and insurance. The counselors also offer to review loan documents to ensure that the client understands them. Counseling before bankruptcy - in confidential, one-on-one counseling sessions, afs certified credit counselors helped 120 clients assess their current income and assets versus monthly expenses and debts. With this information, afs creates an accurate and detailed monthly budget that captures the client's overall financial situation. This process allows the counselor to better explain what bankruptcy means to the client and the possible alternatives for handling debts. Afs is approved by the executive office for u. S. Trustees (eoust) to issue certificates of credit counseling in compliance with the bankruptcy codes of alaska, arizona, arkansas, california, colorado, connecticut, delaware, florida, georgia, hawaii, idaho, illinois, indiana, iowa, kansas, kentucky, louisiana, maine, maryland, massachusetts, michigan, minnesota, mississippi, missouri, montana, nebraska, new hampshire, new mexico, nevada, new jersey, new york, north dakota, ohio, oklahoma, oregon, pennsylvania, rhode island, south carolina, south dakota, tennessee, texas, utah, vermont, virginia, washington, west virginia, wyoming, washington dc, and wisconsin. Approval does not endorse or assure the quality of an agency's services. Post-bankruptcy education - the bankruptcy code requires consumers to complete an approved financial education course, also known as post-bankruptcy credit counseling, with an approved agency before debts can be discharged. Afs provides this course utilizing the "money in motion" program. Afs is approved by the executive office for u. S. Trustees (eoust) to provide the required post-bankruptcy education in compliance with the bankruptcy codes of alaska, arizona, arkansas, california, colorado, connecticut, delaware, florida, georgia, hawaii, idaho, illinois, indiana, iowa, kansas, kentucky, louisiana, maine, maryland, massachusetts, michigan, minnesota, mississippi, missouri, montana, nebraska, nevada, new hampshire, new jersey, new mexico, new york, north dakota, ohio, oklahoma, oregon, pennsylvania, rhode island, south carolina, south dakota, tennessee, texas, utah, vermont, virginia, washington, west virginia, wisconsin, wyoming, and washington dc. There were 54 clients served during the year. Student loan counseling - afs certified student loan counselors help persons manage their student loans with a plan specifically tailored to them. The program is designed to help clients successfully manage their student loan debt and avoid the negative consequences of loan delinquency and default. Counselors help evaluate the loan information, review available payment options and put a plan in place for repayment. Additionally, afs, in partnership with colleges and universities, offers roadmap for students, a powerful toolbox of debt management resources that support and position colleges and their students for continued success by reducing or avoiding high student loan default rates and holistically approaching students' financial situations. Colleges and universities can purchase the program from afs and offer it to their students and alumni. The program includes onsite classes, targeted and integrated email campaigns, online classes and tools, a mobile app, workbooks, class flyers, and posters.

supports north seattle college through financial contributions for scholarships, faculty grants and other purposes, and by providing foundation personnel the resources for specific educational projects in collaboration with the college.

public educational outreach activities focus on consumer debt and other personal finance subjects, including free workshops, seminars, publications and online courses. 2,665 individuals participated in face to face education classes, while 3,149 individuals participated in on-line education classes. Financial literacy education - in january 2017, american financial solutions launched updated versions of our personal finances courses, investing in yourself. The updated videos and coursework include the original eight part series and two additional courses, roadmap for students, a guide for paying for college and roadmap for students, student loan repayment. This series of programs is free to the public and teaches the essentials of smart money management. Afs also conducts workshops in the western washington community to build financial literacy and help individuals to better manage their money. A variety of programs are available for adults, young adults, parents and teachers.