[The following is a paid advertisement.]

Credit unions play a major role in housing stability, financial wellness, and long-term financial empowerment. Programs generally include:

✔ Certified financial counseling
✔ HUD‑certified housing guidance
✔ Homebuyer education and down payment assistance
✔ Debt management & budgeting support
✔ Community financial education workshops

These programs reflect the People Helping People cooperative philosophy—helping members build financial security and achieve homeownership.

Great Lakes Credit Union Foundation’s Executive Director, Matthew Rizzie speaks to their financial education and counseling program, stating that “every year we work with more than 1,000 individuals and members that need help with looking at their budget, looking at their savings plan, developing a plan to improve their credit. In the last year, not only did we work with more than 1,000 people, we’ve been able to save more than $7 million in homes that would have gone into foreclosure. And in the past 3 years, we’ve saved more than $50 million in homes that would have gone into foreclosure with the work that we’re doing”.

Learn more at https://betterforillinois.org/

Paid for by Illinois Credit Union League.