Budget Buddies seeks to improve the financial literacy and independence of low income women in the Greater Lowell area.  Their six month program combines workshops on budgeting, banking, credit and money values with one-on-one coaching.
After a comprehensive orientation, coaches and clients attend workshops together.  They meet between classes to complete exercises that address the client’s financial issues.  A coaching coordinator is available to connect clients with community resources, answer questions, and to lead monthly support groups for coaches.
Budget Buddies is looking for coaches.  You do not have to be a financial wizard.  All you need is the desire to help someone make the most of the money she has. Other volunteer opportunties exist as well.

Last September, Budget Buddies launched a six-month pilot program serving clients of the Chelmsford Housing Authority and the Lowell Transitional Living Center. Funded in part through a federal grant provided through the Jericho Road Project, with training support from the Jeanne D’Arc Credit Union, this pilot helped us evaluate our business model and obtain the performance results we need to expand our organization. We recently received an award from Jericho Road for our evaluation strategy, which was developed in coordination with Concord, MA -based Carlisle and Company.

In May, we started a new program with House of Hope, which provides shelter and homes to low-income families with children in Lowell. This program included a pilot of Budget Buddies Basics, designed to prepare women with minimal skills for workshops and coaching. This fall, in addition to a second program at House of Hope, we have new programs at American MoJo, a manufacturing facility for low-income mothers, and South Bay Early Intervention, a clinic for families of children with developmental needs.

Tuesday/Thursday

February 7. 9, 16 & 21

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Salem
Salem Charter School – 45 Congress St Salem, MA
Tuesday/Thursday
March 6, 8, 13 & 15

6:00pm to 8:30pm

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Chelmsford

McFarlin Manor -10 Wilson Chelmsford, MA
April 17, 19, 24 & 26
6:00 – 8:30pm
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Friday, March 30, 2012

 City of Lowell – Keys to Ending Homelessness Conference Series

 Conference 6: Veterans

University of Massachusetts Inn & Conference Center

50 Warren Street, Lowell, MA

Guest Speaker: Coleman Nee, Secretary

Massachusetts Department of Veterans’ Services

 Workshop panel discussions to include:

~          Veterans Benefits 101

~          Outreach to Homeless Veterans Resistant to Housing and Services Assistance

~          Posttraumatic Stress and Traumatic Brain Injury

~          Customizing Services for Different Genders and Generations of Veterans

~           Surviving Spouses and Family Members

~          Mental Illness and Substance Abuse

~          Education, Employment and Business Incentives

For registration information, contact Linda King at lking@lowellma.gov

Duties:

Primary duty is to provide interpretation and translation services as needed

Assists applicants and clients in completing and/or obtaining necessary verifications for eligibility determination

Facilitates customer service delivery by providing services to clients such as responding to inquiries, and explaining basic department procedures

Promotes customer service delivery through document processing and management

Conveys information and explains actions to clients with varying expectations, needs, cultures and languages

Utilizing Department MIS systems and equipment, provides ongoing assistance and technical support to Benefits Eligibility and Referral Social Workers

Receives and acts on instructions from internal contacts such as peers, supervisors, managers, professional and technical employees and clerical/support staff

Gathers information, receives instruction and facilitates complaint resolution.

Exchanges information with internal and external contacts per existing department policies

Provides administrative support within the local office as assigned by the supervisor

Perform other duties as assigned.

LICENSES: Based on assignment, travel may be required. Those employees who elect to use a motor vehicle for travel must have a current and valid Massachusetts Class D Motor Vehicle Operator’s license or the equivalent from another state.

Preferred Qualifications:

The ability to read, write and converse with clientele, colleagues and external contacts in English and Khmer.

Two or more years work experience, with translation duties, in social work or social casework, claims adjudication, job placement, recruitment, employment counseling, vocational or rehabilitation counseling setting.

This is a Civil Service position
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:
Selected candidates must take and pass a language proficiency examination which will test English and Khmer language reading comprehension, conversational and writing skills, and oral interpreting skills.
A criminal background check will be completed on the recommended candidate as required by the regulations set forth by the Executive Office of Health and Human Services prior to the candidate being hired. For more information, please visit http://www.mass.gov/hhs/cori and click on “Information for Job Applicants.”

How To Apply:

Please mail two (2) copies of cover letter and resume to:
Jessica Hopps
Children, Youth and Families
Employment and Staffing Unit
600 Washington Street – 7th Floor
Boston, MA 02111
Please reference the Posting ID J28994 on all correspondence. Resume and cover letter must reference the Posting ID number. Materials submitted must be post marked by the posting deadline date in order to be considered.

Housing & Consumer Workshops at Community Teamwork scheduled for the months of February, March and April 2012

FAQ’s for Tenants and Landlords with answers to the most frequently asked questions and links to resources