Kitsap Community Resources has teamed up with local community partners to create an Asset-Building Coalition (ABC of Kitsap) that will tackle financial literacy and education issues in Kitsap County. The Washington State Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development (CTED) has encouraged local asset building coalitions such as this one to work with the Washington Asset Building Coalition (WABC) and CTED to support and expand asset-building practices and services across the state.

In addition, KCR is developing a Financial Education program that will help families make productive decisions in managing their personal finances and building real financial assets. The program will also provide training and resources to KCR’s Family Development Specialists who mentor and engage low-income families through current services such as housing, energy assistance, child care, and employment placement and training.

The Financial Education program will collaborate with ABC partners to provide classes to those in the community interested in learning more about money management, budgeting, savings accounts, home equity, paying for a college education, starting a business, paying off debt, and credit repair.

The coalition initially includes representatives from:

• Kitsap Community Resources
• Kitsap Credit Union
• Bremerton Housing Authority
• Kitsap County Consolidated Housing Authority
• Washington CASH
• United Way of Kitsap County
• Olympic College
• American Financial Solutions
• AARP (American Association of Retired Persons) Tax Aide
• IRS (Internal Revenue Service)
• DSHS
• Habitat for Humanity
• Sterling Savings Bank
• College Success Foundation