Innovative Changes

INNOVATIVE CHANGES HELPS PEOPLE BUILD THEIR LONG TERM FINANCIAL HEALTH.

LENDING - INNOVATIVE CHANGES PROVIDES RESPONSIBLE SMALL-DOLLAR CONSUMER LOANS TO HELP BORROWERS WHO ARE EXPERIENCING FINANCIAL EMERGENCIES, HOUSING CHOICE VOUCHER HOLDERS NEEDING SECURITY DEPOSITS, AND THOSE PREPARING FOR ASSET BUILDING OPPORTUNITIES. SINCE OUR INCEPTION IN EARLY 2010 THROUGH FISCAL YEAR 2019 WE ORIGINATED 1239 SMALL DOLLAR LOANS, INCLUDING 499 OPPORTUNITY AND PUBLIC LOANS, 604 CREDIT BUILDER LOANS, 29 EMERGENCY LOANS, 20 LOANS FOR SURVIVORS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, 7 LOANS FOR ADAPTIVE TECHNOLOGY, AND 80 LOANS FOR MOVING COSTS FOR SECTION 8 HOUSING CHOICE VOUCHER HOLDERS.

FINANCIAL EDUCATION - INNOVATIVE CHANGES PROVIDES PRACTICAL, COMPREHENSIVE, ONE-ON-ONE COACHING, FINANCIAL EDUCATION, ASSET BUILDING AND CREDIT BUILDING WORKSHOPS THAT ADDRESS COMMON ROOT CAUSES OF FINANCIAL CHALLENGES AND TEACH BASIC HOUSEHOLD FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT. OF THE TOTAL PEOPLE SERVED IN 2018, WE BRANCHED OUT TO PROVIDE FINANCIAL EDUCATION AND CREDIT BUILDING FOR 56 ADULTS IN CUSTODY AT OREGON STATE PENITENTIARY. THE TARGET POPULATION WAS ADULTS IN CUSTODY WITH A MAXIMUM OF 36 MONTHS LEFT ON THEIR SENTENCE. IN THE WORKSHOP 50% REPORTED THEIR KNOWLEDGE/SKILL LEVEL OF THE SUBJECT MATTER(S) INCREASED AFTER THE WORKSHOP.OUR EXISTING 50 INNOVATIVE CHANGES' PARTNERS REGULARLY REFER CLIENTS TO OUR COACHING PROGRAM. OUR PARTNERS ARE AWARE OF THE SERVICE WE CAN PROVIDE AND HAVE TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF OUR FREE PROGRAM. IN 2018 WE HAD 15 POTENTIAL CLIENTS INQUIRE EACH MONTH FOR OUR COACHING SERVICES. INNOVATIVE CHANGES CAN OFFER FREE COACHING TO SO MANY MORE PEOPLE IN THE PORTLAND AREA, WE ARE ABLE TO MORE WIDELY PUBLICIZE OUR PROGRAM AND ENSURE ALL CLIENTS WHO COME TO US FOR OUR OTHER PRODUCTS AND SERVICES ALSO KNOW THAT WE OFFER FREE FINANCIAL COACHING.WE PARTNERED WITH CASH OREGON, A FREE TAX SITE, TO DIRECT TAX PAYERS TO THE ADDITIONAL RESOURCES AND SERVICES OUR ORGANIZATION CAN PROVIDE. WE CREATED A "MONEY MENU" LISTING OUR SERVICES WHICH WAS INCLUDED ON THE INTAKE CLIPBOARD FOR ALL TAXPAYERS. WE WERE ABLE TO TALK DIRECTLY AND OVER THE PHONE AND EMAIL WITH HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY TO LINK THEM TO OUR COACHING PROGRAM AND OUR RESOURCES. WE RECRUITED AND TRAINED 27 VOLUNTEER FINANCIAL COACHES' TO HELP CLIENTS WITH SET GOALS TO ACHIEVE THEIR OWN SELF DETERMINED FINANCIAL WELL-BEING.

CREDIT BUILDING - INNOVATIVE CHANGES HELPED OVER 604 CLIENTS TAKE CONTROL OF THEIR CREDIT AND BUILD STRONG CREDIT SCORES TO INCREASE THEIR ACCESS TO WELL-PRICED ASSET-BUILDING CREDIT, SUCH AS HOME MORTGAGES, SMALL BUSINESS LOANS AND HIGHER EDUCATION LOANS. OUR COACHING AND CREDIT BUILDER LOANS HELP PEOPLE WITH NO CREDIT SCORE ESTABLISH A SOLID BASIS FOR RESPONSIBLE BORROWING.