New programs to increase economic mobility for Boston residents

Mayor Martin J. Walsh today launched a first-in-the-nation Citywide credit building initiative, Boston Builds Credit (BBC), which will help 25,000 Boston residents attain a credit score of 660 or higher by the year 2025 through financial education and one-on-one financial coaching. The program will be launched in Roxbury, and will expand to Dorchester and Mattapan in the following years.

"A good credit score is crucial in today's economy, and Boston Builds Credit gives us real tools to continue our work in addressing income inequality and increasing economic mobility for thousands of our residents," said Mayor Walsh. "The health of a city ultimately depends on the financial health of our residents, and Boston Builds Credit, as well as Bank On Boston, will strengthen our communities by giving our residents more access to career, education and financial opportunities, including homeownership."

This innovative program is a partnership between the Mayor's Office of Financial Empowerment (OFE), United Way of Massachusetts Bay and Merrimack Valley, and LISC Boston. The planning process and program development is supported by a grant from Citi Community Development. Funding to start implementation of the three-year project, totaling $2 million so far, will come from  from Citi, Bank of America and the lead partners. Mayor Walsh announced Boston Builds Credit, as well as Bank On Boston, at an event welcoming the Cities for Financial Empowerment (CFE) Coalition conference to Boston. The CFE Coalition is a nonprofit that works to improve the financial stability of low-and-moderate income households through local government. Boston was selected to become a member of the Coalition in 2015 as a result of Mayor Walsh's commitment to addressing Boston's income inequity.

In Boston, an estimated 100,000 people do not have a credit score, and 136,000 have a poor credit score. These individuals pay higher interest and fees on mortgages, home insurance, car loans, and college financing, causing "expense inequality," a term used to describe the sustained overpayment of interest and fees on financial products.

A good credit history is a prerequisite for everyday financial products and services such as low-cost credit cards, bank accounts or car loans. Renting an apartment, paying for home insurance, signing up for utilities and even landing a job can also be affected by a person's credit history, or the absence of one. A good credit score is necessary to attain the tools to access a college degree, buy a home, or start and grow a small business.

BBC's interim goal is to help 3,000 Bostonians achieve a prime, and/or average credit score increase of 30 points over the next three years.

United Way has convened many of the partners over the past few months, including community-based organizations, employers and financial institutions to develop the initiative and raise funds, as well as provide training to financial coaches in partnership with the Credit Builders Alliance. In addition to its partnership with Boston Builds Credit, United Way this year is also investing over $800,000 in community-based organizations in Boston to support financial coaching and credit-building work.

"We are grateful for the collaboration of so many committed community and funding partners who are participating in this initiative and who will be working with us to promote economic prosperity for all Bostonians," said Michael K. Durkin, United Way president and chief executive officer.

"Boston Builds Credit is a great partnership that focuses on moving the needle on a key driver of economic inequality with strategies that meet people where they live and work" said Bob Van Meter, executive director of LISC Boston.

"According to the Boston Builds Credit plan released today, an estimated 100,000 Bostonians do not have a credit score, and 136,000 have a poor credit score, resulting in them paying higher interest rates and fees." said Bob Annibale, Global Director of Citi Community Development. "The new Boston Builds Credit program is ambitious in its scope and inclusive in its approach, and will work toward helping thousands of the city's most vulnerable Bostonians build and rebuild strong financial identities that enable them to achieve their financial goals."

The City and its partners, in collaboration with numerous community partners, have developed the following plan to guide BBC's implementation:

1.   Implement Citywide Strategies:

• Launch a public education campaign to reach residents with credit building information and tools

• Train credit building specialists to provide services

• Build a network of credit building resources with multiple points of access  

BBC is partnering with more than 25 non-profit agencies collectively representing over 100 Boston community-based organizations to implement credit building across the City. Credit building workshops, along with individualized credit building services will be available both directly and through referrals across this network.

• Facilitate access to safe credit products

BBC is partnering with a number of financial institutions to ensure that safe, affordable credit building products are available and that consumers are aware of and have access to these products.

2.   Test Citywide Strategies in Specific Neighborhoods

BBC will provide intensive and coordinated outreach to and services for residents living and/or working in particular neighborhoods identified as high need. This place-based strategy will be piloted first in Roxbury where there is need and to take advantage of the Roxbury Center for Financial Empowerment, which already offers free financial coaching. In subsequent years, the place-based strategy will be tested in two additional neighborhoods - Dorchester and Mattapan.

3.  Effect Systems Change

• Promote investments imbued with a credit building lens 

BBC will seek to build the field by encouraging more grantmakers, municipalities and social investors to increase their investments in programs that integrate credit building to enhance both client and organizational outcomes.

• Replicate in other municipalities

BBC will serve as a national model for other municipalities interested in creating similar city-wide credit building initiatives. To do so, BBC will develop an implementation toolkit that will be available along with training and consulting opportunities to interested municipalities.

• Disrupt predatory practices

BBC will work to disrupt high-cost, predatory practices by promoting the introduction of better products and services into Boston, starting with the three neighborhoods identified for place-based credit building.

• Promote access to accurate, real time, accessible credit education

BBC aspires to open up a dialogue with credit industry stakeholders and to help bridge gaps in understanding, debunk myths, and foster a collective sense of urgency to help set consumers and small businesses up for success.

• Promote consumer protection

BBC will advocate for strong consumer financial protections at both the local and state levels, and contribute where appropriate to federal efforts to educate legislators on issues and initiatives that seek to improve the lives of all Americans.

BBC invites the participation of additional partners - Boston's community-based organizations, employers, small business owners, financial institutions, the credit industry, funders, residents and others - to join this effort. For up-to-date information on BBC, please visit bostonbuildscredit.org.

Bank On Boston:

Mayor Walsh also announced the launch of Bank On Boston, a new City-led program to connect residents with reliable, non-predatory financial products and services that can help them save, grow, and access their money.  

In Boston, approximately 10 percent of households do not have a checking or savings account, and  rely on costly alternative financial services, such as check-cashing and payday loans. Bank On Boston will identify local financial products and services that meet "safe banking" standards, known as Bank On Certified Accounts. Bank On Certified Accounts must be low-cost or no-cost, easy to use, and safe.

Bank On Boston is part of a nationwide movement of Bank On programs led by the Cities for Financial Empowerment (CFE) Fund. Bank On Boston will raise public awareness, expand access to financial education, and help connect residents to other OFE asset building initiatives such as Boston Saves, the Boston Tax Help Coalition, and Boston Builds Credit. The program in Boston is organized by the Mayor's Office of Financial Empowerment (OFE) and the Mayor's Office of New Urban Mechanics (MONUM), with the help of local financial institutions, community organizations, and city, state, and federal partner agencies. Find out more about the national Bank On movement at joinbankon.org or about Bank On Boston at bankonboston.org.

About Office of Financial Empowerment

Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh has made addressing income disparities a priority of his administration.  As part of this undertaking, he formed the Office of Financial Empowerment in 2014. The Office of Financial Empowerment's mission is to connect City residents seeking to improve their financial situation with access to asset building programs, financial education and individualized coaching, and income support. By assisting residents to obtain the tools to achieve financial prosperity, economic well-being can become a reality for Bostonians of all ages.   Additional information may be found at ofe.boston.gov and  Twitter: @OFE_Boston.

About United Way of Massachusetts Bay and Merrimack Valley

United Way of Massachusetts Bay and Merrimack Valley harnesses the power of communities working together - individuals, businesses, nonprofits and government agencies - to create positive, lasting change for people in need.  United Way focuses on improving two foundations of better lives: Educational Success and Financial Opportunity.  This include ensuring that individuals and families have safe housing, healthy food, quality child care, a job that allows them to support themselves and their family, and access to financial tools and coaching to help them build a better future.   By funding the most effective nonprofits and programs, measuring their progress and mobilizing volunteers, United Way ensures donations deliver the greatest impact and real results in the community.  Additional information may be found at unitedwaymassbay.org, Twitter: @UnitedWayMaBay.  

About Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) Boston

LISC equips struggling communities with the capital, program strategy and know-how to become places where people can thrive. It combines corporate, government and philanthropic resources. Since 1980, LISC has invested $17.3 billion to build or rehab 366,000 affordable home and develop 61 million square feet of retail, community and educational space. LISC supports eighty financial opportunity centers across the country including here in Boston.  LISC Boston has invested $286 million in community revitalization since 1981.