Financial Opportunity Center offered at Goodwill of the Olympics and Rainier Region - Milgard Work Opportunity Center

Offers individuals and households the ability to build financial stability and self-sufficiency for their unique situation. Offers these services as part of the Centers for Strong Families network FINANCIAL OPPORTUNITY CENTER (FOC) SERVICES: 1. Integrated coaching services;

• Employment coaching: Job readiness, employment training, and assistance looking for job are essential parts of what is offered at a Financial Opportunity Center site. A job and opportunities for advancement are the platform that supports a family's financial well-being, and employment services are the initial reason many clients begin working with an FOC.
• Financial Coaching: helps clients do a better job in how they handle their money. The goal is for a family to examine their savings and spending habits to see if they can make positive changes that improve their credit scores and stabilize and grow their assets. Income Supports access can be crucial for giving a worker the time and income necessary to fulfill training to reach a better paying position and career. Coaches helps clients work through the disjointed network of public benefits and helps individuals access all of the services and supports for which they are eligible.

2. Financial Education: Every individual has a unique situation and the ability to build financial stability and self-sufficiency. Our Financial Education course offers the tools to help you achieve your financial goals. Improving credit, paying off student loans, working to own a home and planning for retirement are some of the many topics covered in our no-cost training for our community.

• Tacoma Public Utility low-income customers may qualify to receive up to an $160 credit for completing our Financial Education program and attending a Financial coaching session.

3. Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA): the VITA program provides free Federal tax return preparation to households with income under $65,000. VITA sites prepare current years taxes by appointment only, and may prepare up to 3 years back tax return upon request and limited by availability. Goodwill's Financial Opportunity Center® is supported by United Way of Pierce County & the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC)