Earlier this year, the Urban Institute, a national nonprofit research organization, created an interactive map that highlights the geography of debt in America. This online tool, funded by the Annie E. Casey Foundation and the Ford Foundation, focus on debt disparities in every US county and how these inequities contribute to and “reinforce the wealth gap between white communities and communities of color.”
For several years running, Minnesota has ranked at or near the bottom of all 50 states when it comes to employment, housing, median income, and the overall racial wealth gap. And, the data from the Urban Institute’s debt map further bears these numbers out. For example, in Minnesota households of color are at least two-and-a-half times more likely to have debt that is currently in default. This includes debt from credit cards, medical bills, auto loans, and student loans, which further burdens the financial wellness of local households and the larger community.
At Community Action Partnership of Ramsey & Washington Counties, we offer a suite of programs and services through our Financial Opportunity Programs department, including employment services, the Car Ownership program, Money Smart workshops, Getting Ahead, our Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Clinic, and other initiatives. Collectively, these programs are designed to help low-income individuals and families chart a course toward economic stability through: job training and case management support; increased savings; budgeting skills; educational opportunities; credit building and asset development; and additional strategies including your very own financial empowerment plan.
For more information on our Financial Opportunity Programs, call us at 651-603-5880 or visit our Money, Jobs, and Transportation page at www.caprw.org.
