At ERDA, we believe that financial literacy, access to financial services and tools, and ongoing support are essential for residents to move up the economic ladder and to begin to build wealth for themselves and their families.

ERDA’s asset building program, The Financial Fitness Program is based on the premise that money coupled with the right information and support can be a powerful tool to help families, especially low income families, to realize their dreams, whether that be to stop the cycle of living paycheck to paycheck, send a child to college, buy a home, starting a business or plan for a comfortable retirement. The ERDA Financial Fitness Program focuses on giving participants the support needed to realize long-term financial goals by assisting in meeting short-term goals such as credit repair, debt reduction, budgeting, battling emotional issues with spending, and savings techniques. Counselors then help clients move on to the long term asset building goals through continued one on one assistance and partnerships with local organizations that specialize in achieving the goal identified by the client.

 

The Financial Fitness Program is sponsored by Amalgamated Bank, the Bank of America Foundation, Freddie Mac, JP Morgan Chase, the New York City Council Speaker Initiative, the New York City Department of Consumer Affairs, the New York City Financial Network Action Consortium, the Robin Hood Foundation, Single Stop USA, Sovereign Bank, the United Way of New York City, the Walmart Foundation, and the Wells Fargo Foundation.