TOLEDO, Ohio – A program designed to help individuals make lasting, positive changes in their financial and personal lives has been making a significant impact in Findlay and Hancock County. The Financial Opportunity Center (FOC), offered by Habitat for Humanity of Findlay/Hancock County, provides free, individualized financial and employment coaching to those in need, helping them build a path to financial stability.
Since its inception, the program has helped hundreds of people take control of their finances, build credit, reduce debt, and even secure new job opportunities. The program’s emphasis is on making small adjustments that add up to significant changes over time. One of the program’s first success stories is Cara Summers, who became the FOC’s first client in 2021.
Summers’ journey is a testament to the power of the program. Having been living in a local homeless shelter with her two young daughters, Summers found hope when she came across an advertisement for the Financial Opportunity Center. At the time, she had no credit and little direction. But the FOC helped her build her credit and offered support through every step of her journey.
“It means everything to me. Without this place, I don’t think I’d be where I am now,” said Summers. “It’s changed my life in a lot of ways. It’s held me accountable. It’s taken me places I didn’t think I’d go. It got me the job I wanted, it got me a house. It means a lot to me.”
Summers is now preparing for a major milestone in her life: the groundbreaking of her new home. As a Habitat for Humanity partner family, Summers and her children will soon move into a home built by the organization. Her excitement is palpable as she looks forward to a fresh start.
“I think I am still in shock until it starts happening. I’m excited, my kids are excited, too. It’s a new chapter for us,” Summers shared.
Dustin Fuller, the manager of the Financial Opportunity Center, has been instrumental in helping clients like Summers. Fuller emphasizes the program’s focus on small changes that can lead to long-term success. “We look at small changes that will add up to big differences over time,” Fuller said.
Fuller explained that what sets the FOC apart is its holistic approach. The program not only provides financial coaching but also integrates employment support and income assistance, offering wraparound services to help clients stabilize their financial situation. This comprehensive model aims to address the root causes of financial instability, allowing individuals to make lasting changes in their behavior and financial habits.
“The success of the program is not defined by any one goal. Success looks different for every individual, and we are here to help them achieve it,” Fuller said.
The Financial Opportunity Center is open to anyone, regardless of income level. The program has worked with individuals from all walks of life, including those with good jobs and credit scores. For many, the challenge isn’t about earning more money but about curbing spending habits and developing better financial behaviors.
The FOC’s impact is undeniable. In the past year alone, the program helped about 350 individuals. It has offered confidential, free services that have enabled clients to take control of their financial futures and create new opportunities for themselves and their families.
Summers reflects on the profound effect the program has had on her life: “I turned my whole life around and it’s because of this program. If you feel like there is no one else, this is a place you can come to get help. There is a future for you through them.”
Today, Summers is working as a nurse’s aide and plans to begin nursing school later this year. Her future is brighter, and she credits the Financial Opportunity Center for helping her get there.
As Habitat for Humanity continues to support individuals through the Financial Opportunity Center, it remains a beacon of hope for many families in Findlay and Hancock County, offering a chance to rewrite the story of their lives, one small step at a time.