CMHC FINANCIAL HEALTH RESOURCE AND REFERRAL GUIDE

  1. FINANCIALEDUCATION – GROUP BASED
  2. ONE-ON-ONE FINANCIAL COUNSELING/COACHING
  3. REPRESENTATIVE PAYEE/MONEY MANAGEMENT SERVICES
  4. BENEFITS SCREENING/ASSISTANCE
  5. LEGAL ADVICE
  6. UTILITIES/DISCONNECTIONS
  7. SECOND CHANCE BANK ACCOUNTS
  8. INDIVIDUAL DEVELOPMENT ACCOUNTS (IDAs)
  9. TAX PREPARATION
  10. CREDIT BUILDING SERVICES
  11. AFFORDABLE CREDIT
  12. CREDIT COUNSELING/DEBT MANAGEMENT

See for a comprehensive state-wide guide to a range of useful resources.

A: FINANCIALEDUCATION – group based
Organization Name / Contact
1 / START Community Bank, 299 Whalley Avenue, New Haven, organizes financial literacy training for organizations. / Patti Scussel, VP Community and Business Development, at 203 752 1314/203 710 7886 or .
2 / UConn New Haven County Extension Center, 305 Skiff Street, Hamden, provides financial literacy training to through its family economics program. / Faye Griffiths-Smith at 203 407 3160 or . Also see
3 / Junta for Progressive Action, 169 Grand Avenue, New Haven, provides financial literacy training to service users. / Fernando Faneyte, Program Director for Economic Developmentand Employment at 203 787 0191 or
4 / The Veterans Administration Hospital, 950 Campbell Avenue, West Haven, provides group based financial counseling to veterans with mental health problems. / Karen Ablondi at 203 932 5711 x3972, or .
5 / Columbus House Homeless Shelter, 586 Ella Grasso Boulevard, New Haven, provides financial literacy training as part of their Employment Enrichment – only for existing service users. / Thomas Fortuna, Pathways to Independence Manager, at 203 772 4200 x 2139, or .
6 / Christian Community Action (CCA), 168 Davenport Avenue, New Haven, organizes budgeting workshops for participants in its Stepping Stones Transitional Housing Program. / Judith Rich at 203 777 7167 or .
7 / NeighborWorks/New Horizons, 235 Grand Avenue, New Haven, provides budgeting sessions for prospective homebuyers. / Director of Community Development at 203 562 4514.
8 / All our Kin, 414A Chapel Street, Suite 100 New Haven, provides financial literacy training to home-based childcare providers. / Julia Granata, Financial and Business Coach, , 203 772-2294 ext. 25
B: ONE-ON-ONE FINANCIAL COUNSELING/COACHING
Organization Name / Contact
1 / United Way Smart About Money (SAM), 370 James street, Suite 403, New Haven, CT 06513, connects individuals with volunteer budget coaches for one-on-one sessions for a 6 month period. / Joy Duva, , 203 691 4203
2 / Connecticut Association for Human Services (CAHS), 110 Bartholomew Avenue, Suite 4030, Hartford, connects individuals with volunteer budget coaches for one-on-one sessions for a 6 month period / Jamal Jimerson, 860-951-2212 ext. 229,
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3 / Capital Good Fund, 99 Pratt Street, Suite 200, Hartford,offers four one-on-one financial coaching sessions. After completion of sessions, follow-up contacts are made to monitor the progress of clients and update them on the status of their credit reports ($180 fee – paid in monthly installments that build positive credit history) / Ashley Gardner at , 866-584-3651x108.
4 / The Veterans Administration Hospital, 950 Campbell Avenue, West Haven, provides one-on-one financial counseling to veterans with mental health problems. / Karen Ablondi at 203 932 5711 x3972, or .
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C: REPRESENTATIVE PAYEE/MONEY MANAGEMENT SERVICES
Organization Name / Contact
1 / Connecticut Mental Health Center (CMHC), 35 Park street, New Haven, Money Management program provides representative payee services to CMHC clients. / John Rockwell, 203 974 7021,
2 / Columbus House Homeless Shelter, 586 Ella Grasso Boulevard, New Haven, provides Money Management provides representative payee services to residents of the shelter. / Christine Santana,
D: BENEFITS SCREENING/ASSISTANCE
Organization Name / Contact
1 / Department of Social Services, 50 Humphrey street, New Haven, CT 06513. / 1-855-6-CONNECT (1-855-626-6632),
2 / Connecticut Mental Health Center Department of Social Services Eligibility Services Specialist, room #125, 1st floor, 34 Park street, New Haven, CT 06519. Provides DSS support to CMHC clients. / Trina Eshaghi,
203-974-7276
203-974-7234
2 / SOAR/Pathways to Independence Program, Columbus House Homeless Shelter, 586 Ella Grasso Boulevard, New Haven, expedites access to Social Security Disability Benefits for people who are homeless and have a disability. / Libby Protzman, , 203.772.4200 X2149
3 / New Haven Legal Assistance Association Inc., 426 State street, New Haven, may provide assistance to low income people in case of denial of DSS benefits / Referrals made through Statewide Legal Services, telephone hotline 1 800 453 3320, 1 860 344 0380. Hotline open 9-12pm, 1-2pm, Monday through Friday. See also for online advice about numerous issues.
E: LEGAL ADVICE
Organization Name / Contact
1 / New Haven Legal Assistance Association Inc., 426 State street, New Haven, provides legal assistance to low income people related to housing, employment, benefits (SSDI, SSI, Medicaid), domestic abuse and access to education. / Referrals made through Statewide Legal Services, telephone hotline 1 800 453 3320, 1 860 344 0380. Hotline open 9-12pm, 1-2pm, Monday through Friday. See also for online advice about numerous issues.
Undocumented should contact NHLA directly at 203 946 4811.
2 / Connecticut Legal Rights Project, Connecticut Mental Health Center 34 Park street, New Haven, CT 06519. Provides legal assistance about housing, access to health care, payees/conservators, disability rights/discrimination, inpatient issues. / 203 974 7715. See also for on-line advice and further contact information.
F: UTILITIES/DISCONNECTIONS
Organization Name / Contact
1 / United Illuminating Financial Assistance programs offer matching payment plans to qualifying customers. Also can apply for the hardship or winter protection to avoid having electricity shut off between Nov and May. / 1-800-722-5584
2 / Energy Assistance/Operation Fuel offer assistance with winter heating costs / Community Action Agency of New Haven, 419 Whalley Avenue New Haven, 203 285 8018 or 203 387 7700,
3 / Center for Children’s Advocacy Medical Legal Partnership Project, provides advice about utilities. / Alice Rosenthal, 203 688 0113, ,

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G: SECOND CHANCE BANK ACCOUNTS(for more information see )
Organization Name / Contact
1 / START Community Bank, offers free second chance bank accounts unless there is a history of fraud or unpaid overdraft over $500. / Patti Scussel, VP Community and Business Development, at 203 752 1314/203 710 7886 or .
2 / Bank of America, SafeBalance Banking Account, has no check book and does not charge overdraft fees. $4.95 monthly fee. Not an option for people with history of fraud or unpaid overdrafts (not a second chance account). / Call 203 752 4960, see more at

3 / Webster Bank, offers second chance ‘opportunity checking’ bank account with monthly fee of $11.95-$16.95. / 1 800 325 2424
4 / Connex Credit Union, offers second chance ‘opportunity checking’ bank account with monthly fee of $15, plus an annual fee of $10 for the debit card. / 203 603 5700
5 / First Niagara,
Wells Fargo, offers a second chance account with a monthly fee of $10. / 203 773 9037
H: INDIVIDUAL DEVELOPMENT ACCOUNTS (IDAS)
Organization Name / Contact
1 / Community Action Agency of New Haven (CAANH),offers IDAs to people with steady income from employment, at or below 200% FPL / Lilian Gutierrez, VP Planning & Development and Special Projects, 203 859 6641,
2 / Neighborhood Housing Servcies of New Haven, for home purchase / Contact Michael Haynes 203 562 0598 Ext. 18, or Mark Cotte, 203 562 0598 Ext. 11,
3 / Higher Heights, for college savings /
4 / Christian Community Action (CCA), offers an IDA program for participants of the Stepping Stones transitional housing program. / Judith Rich at 203 777 7167 or .
I: TAX PREPARATION
Organization Name / Contact
1 / The Greater New Haven VITA Coalition, offers free tax preparation at numerous locations around New Haven. / Find locations at
J: CREDIT BUILDING SERVICES
Organization Name / Contact
1 / Capital Good Fund, 99 Pratt Street, Suite 200, Hartford,offers a credit building program, requiring twelve $10 monthly payments which are reported to the credit bureaus. / Apply online at or contact Laura Fontaine at or
866-584-3651 x115
K: AFFORDABLE CREDIT
Organization Name / Contact
1 / All Our Kin, provides loans to home-based child care providers / Julia Granata, Financial and Business Coach, , 203 772-2294 ext. 25
2 / Capital Good Fund, 99 Pratt Street, Suite 200, Hartford,offers small ($300-$1,000) low cost loans (12%APR) with no minimum credit score or collateral requirements. / Apply online at or contact Laura Fontaine at or
866-584-3651 x115
3 / The Elmseed Enterprise Fund offers loans of up to$5000 at a10% annual interest rate to entrepreneurs in the Greater New Haven community looking to start or grow their small businesses / (203) 903-1737 or
L: CREDIT COUNSELING/DEBT MANAGEMENT
Organization Name / Contact
1 / Money Management Internationaloffers a wide range of financial planning and debt management services. Counseling sessions are free, though there are fees associated with setting up and administering Debt Management Plans. / Scott Sullivan, 781 774 9262,
2 / Statewide Legal Services, offers free legal advice to very low-income people. Applications for advice about consumer issues such as debt and bankruptcy must be made online at apply.slsct.org. / telephone hotline is 1 800 453 3320, open Monday-Friday 9-12pm and 1-2pm. See also for online advice about numerous issues, including debt.

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