BUDGET COUNSELLING

EBO Financial Education Centre provides free budget counseling services to Ottawa’s low-income population, by appointment either in person or by phone.

Within the framework of a budget counseling session, and only as a last resort, a request for a small loan can be made through our microcredit program called  Desjardins Mutual Assistance Fund

Some of budget counselling services provided by EBO Centre include the following:

  • Assessing of financial and taxation situation and expectations

  • Reviewing available options to deal with the situation

  • Developing a realistic and detailed action plan aimed at solving all types of challenging budgetary circumstances.

  • Teaching personal and family budget planning and management tools

  • Where necessary, negotiating with creditors, landlords, social services, financial, and government institutions in order to explain a person’s predicament or if possible, negotiating terms of payments according to one’s ability to repay

  • Raising awareness about managing financial and fiscal matters and the importance of keeping up-to-date with one’s fiscal situation

  • Providing information on good consumer habits to avoid financial traps and overuse of credit

  • Responding to potential crisis situations: eviction, garnishment of salary and/or assets, service cut-offs (electricity, heat, or telephone), or any other emergency

  • Responding to specific requests related to consumer issues or difficult financial circumstances

  • Explaining different remedies available to consumers

  • Referring to appropriate community resources and services

  • Supporting community social workers for their clients’ budgeting and legal matters related to consumer issues, indebtedness, taxation and consumer rights

 DESJARDINS MUTUAL ASSISTANCE FUND

A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN DESJARDINS AND EBO FINANCIAL EDUCATION CENTRE

  • All clients who use budget counseling services may access EBO’s Desjardins Mutual Assistance Fund to meet an urgent financial need through a loan.

  • In 2019, the committee responsible for loan approvals accepted 8 of the 11 reviewed requests.

  • During 2019, the committee awarded $4,800, which amounts to an average loan of $600. The average repayment ratio remains at 74%.

  • Desjardins Ontario Credit Union – In November 2018, members of the 11 Ontario caisses populaires and delegates of the Fédération des caisses populaires de l’Ontario Voted in favour of merging. The new Desjardins Ontario Credit Union will officially open January 1, 2020.
  • EBO Financial Education Centre and Desjardins collaborate in this initiative that provides clients with budgeting advice and allows them access to a small interest-free loan, when this option is considered applicable.

  • To provide support to individuals and families in financially precarious situations who show the desire to take control of their financial situation.
  • To fight indebtedness and recourse to organizations that offer predatory loans.
  • It should be noted that these services will expand since a budget counsellor will now be assigned to Eastern Ontario to provide advice and make small loans available in some circumstances.
  • We plan to contact agencies and organizations in the region to solicit their collaboration in order to offer services delivered under the Desjardins Mutual Assistance Fund to their clienteles. Stay tuned!

Through a meeting with a counsellor who will:

  • Give you free access to budget counselling to help you better plan your personal budget, evaluate your financial situation and find solutions that are adapted to your needs.
  • Enable you to obtain a small interest-free loan with repayment terms tailored to your financial capacity, if this is one of the solutions identified.

To be eligible for a loan, you must:

  • Be referred by a community organization or a Desjardins Credit Union
  • Be a low-income earner
  • Agree to take part in budget counselling
  • Need the loan for an unexpected expense related to an essential need
  • Have the capacity to repay the loan
  • Be a member of a participating Desjardins Credit Union or agree to join one

NOUS JOINDRE

Adresse: 300, rue Olmstead, 2e étage
Ottawa, Ontario K1L 7K1
Téléphone: 613.746.0400

      Telephone

      613.746.0400

      Charity No

      11890-0513RR0001

      Telephone

      613.746.0400

      Charity No

      11890-0513RR0001