The City of Sacramento announced on Apr. 20 that the Health Education Council has joined as a second partner for its Financial Empowerment Center initiative, expanding free financial coaching services to residents aged 18 and over.
The addition of the Health Education Council (HEC) is intended to broaden the reach and impact of the Financial Empowerment Center (FEC), which offers confidential one-on-one financial coaching. The move aims to make these services more accessible across different communities in Sacramento.
HEC joins the International Rescue Committee’s Sacramento office, which has partnered with FEC since 2020. To date, IRC has provided guidance on savings, credit, debt management, banking access, and legacy planning to over 1,800 households in Sacramento. These efforts have helped local residents save more than $1.5 million and reduce collective debt by over $4.4 million.
“HEC’s 35-year history in Sacramento, its strong local network, and its deep understanding of the connections between financial well-being and physical and mental health make it a valuable partner in this work,” said Amy Williamson, the City’s Financial Empowerment Manager.
With both HEC and IRC now involved—and each contributing funding alongside city support—the FEC operates with six financial coaches available for sessions in Dari, English, Hmong, Russian, and Spanish. “At HEC we believe improving health requires strong collaboration and trusted partnerships that bring meaningful resources directly to the community,” said Executive Director Debbie Oto-Kent. “Building sustainable economic well-being for neighborhood residents is a foundation of community health. Through our partnership with the City’s FEC we are working to help individuals and families build long-term financial stability.”
The FEC is part of a national network supported by Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund within Sacramento’s Office of Innovation and Economic Development. More information about national efforts can be found at https://fecpublic.org/.
Residents interested in meeting with a coach can schedule online or call designated phone numbers for assistance in specific languages.
