Financial Empowerment program update: June 30, 2024
Peninsula Family Service has closely watched and reviewed the DriveForward program during the last few years of economic instability, to assess sustainability and participant impact. After twelve months of careful consideration with the PFS Governing Board, finance committee, and staff, PFS has made the hard decision to end the DriveForward program.
For those who are part of DriveForward or want to join, we want you to know that we will still support you during this change. Our Financial Empowerment team is here to help you with the next steps and to find other PFS solutions that meet your needs. The other PFS Financial Empowerment programs are available to help you build credit and become financially stable.
What is next?
Our focus is to provide financial education to youth and adults, and to refer participants to our partner credit unions, and other lenders to obtain their own financing.
The first step is the PFS free financial education program that helps break cycles of debt and vulnerability through workshops, asset and credit-building tools, and alternatives to predatory lenders. Once a participant has completed the workshops, PFS staff can assess participant credit and financial situation to decide if they meet criteria for financing a vehicle, or if another support will help to improve credit.
The Financial Empowerment program offers youth and adult financial education workshops, Lending Circles, and Prepaid Debit Cards – all support financial stability for our community.