Forsyth Family April 2014

Page 39

All people deserve a chance for financial well-being Financial Pathways is the only non-profit in Winston-Salem and Forsyth County that offers comprehensive financial counseling and education to residents regardless of income. FINANCIAL PATHWAYS CAN HELP WITH: Foreclosure Prevention Counseling Credit and Budget Counseling Homeownership Debt Management Bankruptcy Services for Senior Adults At the other end of the age spectrum, FPP’s Senior Financial Care® (SFC) program offers services that help older adults manage their finances. At a time when they should be able to enjoy life, many seniors face the struggle of living on a fixed income while at the same time dealing with increasing medical expenses. In some cases, a reverse mortgage—a legitimate type of home loan backed by the Federal Housing Administration—may be a good solution for homeowners 62 or older who have equity in their homes and plan to continue living there for the long term. Other seniors may be comfortable financially, but want or need assistance with the ongoing financial tasks of paying bills and filing tax returns. Unfortunately, seniors can also be easy victims of fraud, sometimes perpetrated by people they trust. That was the case of one client, who is in his early 80s and sightimpaired. “When he first came to us, there was evidence on paper that he could afford to pay his bills…but his lights were being turned off, his water was being disconnected, and he was about three months behind on his mortgage,” said Terri Gosh, a certified credit and reverse mortgage counselor for FPP.

Financial Education Senior Money Management

Contact Us: Financial Pathways of the Piedmont 8064 North Point Blvd. Winston-Salem, NC 27106 336-896-1191 Toll free 1-888-474-8015 Open Daily 8:30 – 5:00 Also serving clients at other locations in Winston-Salem, Kernersville, Mocksville, Mt. Airy, Elkin, and Walnut Cove www.financialpaths.org

The client is now able to continue living on his own, thanks in large part to the help of Senior Financial Care. He has peace of mind, knowing that his bills will be paid on time and that his account is being monitored for signs of any suspicious activity. “I try to do all I can to help people, and I enjoy working with somebody who can help for me.” Credit Counseling and More Formerly named the Consumer Credit Counseling Service, FPP was founded to help people in financial crisis— particularly those looking to resolve credit issues. In 2012, the name was changed to Financial Pathways to better reflect its vast array of current programs, which involve as much education and prevention as intervention.

FPP continues to provide the highest quality of counseling for issues such as debt management, budgeting, qualifying for home ownership, and foreclosure mitigation. Visitors to the agency’s website, www.financialpaths.org, can learn more about these services, as well as click on the “financial management” tab to see list of classes and online tools, like My Money Checkup® and interactive educational games.

April Issue 2014 • 39


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