In Fall 2020, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, LISC Connecticut launched a statewide Financial Opportunity Center (FOC) Network, which included ten sites across Bridgeport, Hartford, New Britain, New Haven, Norwalk, and Waterbury. FOCs are part of a long-term recovery strategy to ensure that communities impacted most by COVID-19 – including women, people of color, and low-wage workers – benefit from the economic opportunities that are arising as we emerge from the pandemic.
In its first year of operation, the CT FOC Network had served over 2,200 clients. FOC clients – in Connecticut and nationally – are primarily women and people of color. Thus far, Connecticut FOC clients have been 66% women, 42% Black, and 31% Hispanic.
Central to the FOC model is the integration of three core services: one-on-one employment coaching, one-on-one financial coaching, and income supports counseling. In the first year of operations, 80% of Connecticut FOC clients have accessed multiple services. According to an independent study by the Economic Mobility Corporation, integrated or bundled services lead to better, long-term financial outcomes for individuals and families.
The numbers speak for themselves: The network has placed over 200 clients in jobs across a variety of sectors, including education, healthcare, manufacturing, transportation, office administration, finance, security, construction, and logistics and distribution. The average starting wage for clients placed in jobs is $16.24, with at least 52% percent of clients retaining their jobs for 30-days or more. Finally, 70% of clients eligible for benefits experienced their income go up due to income supports.
In January 2022, LISC will launch Year 2 of FOC operations. In the first year, FOCs focused on achieving the seamless integration of services. In the second year, FOCs will continue refining this process while furthering relationships with local employers and community partners. LISC Connecticut hopes to transition some of the FOCs to Bridges to Career Opportunities (BCO) centers by 2023. BCOs build upon the successful FOC model by partnering with residents and businesses to help chronically unemployed and underemployed adults advance careers in local growth industries.
If you have any questions regarding the CT FOC Network, please reach out to Assistant Program Officer Christina Dellaventura (CDellaventura@lisc.org).
The 2020-2021 CT Financial Opportunity Center Network was made possible with generous support from 4-CT, Citi, United Way of Greater Waterbury, Wells Fargo, Fairfield County's Community Foundation, United Way of Central and Northeastern CT, Lincoln Financial Foundation, American Savings Foundation, Bank of America Charitable Foundation, Connecticut Community Foundation, Citizens Bank, Webster Bank, and Ion Bank.