Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller, the City of Albuquerque, and three non-profit partners are launching a free Financial Navigators program to help Albuquerque residents navigate the impact of COVID-19 on family budgets and pocketbooks. The new program is a partnership with national nonprofit organization the Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund (CFE Fund), and local organizations NM Dream Team and the New México Coalition to End Homelessness.
Financial Navigators are available now to meet with residents by phone, providing resources to manage income disruptions and other financial concerns. Financial Navigators help residents one-on-one to prioritize personal financial issues, identify immediate action steps to manage expenses and maximize income, and make referrals to services provided by state and local government and more than 100 community-based providers and partners.
“COVID-19 has done real damage to families who saw income disappear or were forced to choose between their safety and their pocketbooks. There’s no one-size-fits-all solution, so we’re providing personal Navigators to help find the right resources for each individual situation and get folks in touch with the services they need,” said Mayor Tim Keller.
The New México Dream Team is providing the staff for the navigator program and has both English and Spanish-speaking Navigators available. All languages can be served via telephonic interpretation. The New México Coalition to End Homelessness will focus on helping the thousands of city residents on the brink of losing their housing as a result of the crisis.
“NM Dream Team is excited to collaborate with the City of Albuquerque and the Center for Financial Empowerment to provide financial guidance and supports to City residents in response to the economic impact of COVID-19,” said Eduardo Esquivel, New México Dream Team Co-Executive Director. “Improving the financial stability of the most vulnerable Burqueños, left behind or overlooked by other programs and suffering money problems because of the pandemic, is essential to our city’s recovery.”
Residents can access these remote services by completing the web form at http://www.cabq.gov/finnav or calling 311 to sign up. The Financial Navigator will then send a short service agreement and call the client to begin their personal session. The program will be supported by an outreach campaign that will include billboards, online ads, social media, and television and radio spots to promote participation.
“Improving the financial stability of the most vulnerable Burqueños, left behind or overlooked by other programs and suffering money problems because of the pandemic, is essential to our city’s recovery.”
Eduardo Esquivel, New México Dream Team
The CFE Fund provided grant funding along with significant technical assistance and training to launch the program in Albuquerque and other cities and counties across the nation. This initiative is supported by Bloomberg Philanthropies, the Citi Foundation, JPMorgan Chase & Co., and the Wells Fargo Foundation.
“Financial distress is a primary part of the COVID-19 crisis, and we’re pleased Mayor Keller is making this a priority for Albuquerque residents,” said Jonathan Mintz, President and CEO of the Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund. “The Financial Navigators program will help Albuquerque residents assess and prioritize their financial concerns and get connected with the right resources.”
For More New Mexico News: WWW.ELSEMANARIONEWMEXICO.COM
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