Committee approves $50,000 grant to expand New Haven Financial Empowerment Center legacy-planning services – Citizen Portal AI

Grant Approval for Financial Empowerment Initiative to Advance Sustainable Development Goals

Project Authorization and Funding

On November 20, the Health & Human Services Committee approved order LMD-2025-0584, authorizing the acceptance of a $50,000 grant for the New Haven Financial Empowerment Center. The funding, allocated over a two-year period, is designated for the expansion of legacy-planning services for residents. The motion was approved by a voice vote with no recorded oppositions or abstentions.

Initiative Objectives and Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The grant will enable the center to address critical economic disparities and enhance community resilience, directly contributing to several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

• SDG 1: No Poverty & SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities: The primary objective is to “close that gap” in access to financial planning. By providing free, confidential services, the initiative targets economic inequality, helping families protect and transfer assets, thereby preventing cycles of poverty and promoting intergenerational wealth building.
• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth: Empowering residents with financial literacy and legal tools for asset protection fosters economic stability at the household level, which is fundamental to sustainable local economic growth.
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities: Secure and financially stable households contribute to more resilient and sustainable communities. This program strengthens the community fabric by helping residents secure their financial futures.
• SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions: The initiative promotes access to justice by providing residents with the necessary tools and knowledge to navigate legal and financial systems, reinforcing the role of local institutions in supporting citizen welfare.

Scope of Services and Program Implementation

Dorena Mitchell, the local government manager for the center, outlined the services to be supported by the grant funding:

1. Provision of free, confidential access to trust and legal-planning platforms.
2. Development of structured plans for the intergenerational transfer of assets.
3. Execution of workshops focused on essential financial and legal literacy, including:
   • Proper storage of important documents.
   • Utilization of online legal tools.
   • Strategies for protecting family assets.
4. Systematic tracking of client outcomes and management of new intakes to measure program impact.

Governance and Committee Review

During the committee meeting, it was clarified that the New Haven program is part of a national Financial Empowerment Center (FEC) model, with this specific initiative being managed out of New York City. While the center is still developing projections, a precise figure for the number of residents to be served by the $50,000 grant was not provided during the session. The committee’s approval followed a presentation and a brief period of inquiry, concluding with the successful passage of the motion.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

   The article highlights issues connected to several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by focusing on financial empowerment and legacy planning for residents.

   • SDG 1: No Poverty – The initiative to provide free legacy-planning services directly addresses economic vulnerability. By helping residents protect and transfer assets, the program aims to secure intergenerational wealth and prevent families from falling into poverty due to the loss of assets.
   • SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities – The program is designed to “close that gap” by offering free and confidential services. This targets inequality in access to financial and legal resources, ensuring that residents, regardless of their economic status, can plan for their future and their families’ financial security.
   • SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions – This goal includes ensuring equal access to justice for all. The article states the grant will provide “free, confidential access to trust and legal-planning platforms,” which is a direct effort to enhance access to legal tools and justice for community members who might otherwise be unable to afford such services.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

   The content of the article points to specific targets within the identified SDGs.

   • Target 1.4: “By 2030, ensure that all men and women, in particular the poor and the vulnerable, have equal rights to economic resources, as well as access to… ownership and control over… property, inheritance… and other financial services.” The New Haven Financial Empowerment Center’s program directly supports this target by providing services for “transferring assets” and helping residents “protect assets for families.”
   • Target 10.2: “By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of… economic or other status.” The program promotes economic inclusion by offering free financial and legal planning, thereby empowering residents who may have been previously excluded from these essential services due to cost.
   • Target 16.3: “Promote the rule of law… and ensure equal access to justice for all.” The grant supports this target by funding access to “online legal tools” and “legal-planning platforms,” which helps ensure that all residents have the means to legally manage their assets and inheritance, a key component of access to justice.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

   Yes, the article implies several indicators that can be used to measure the program’s progress.

   • The article explicitly states that the center would “track outcomes and manage new client intakes.” This points directly to measurable indicators for tracking progress.
   • Number of clients served: Managing “new client intakes” is a direct indicator of the program’s reach. The article notes that when asked “how many people would be served,” the center was still developing estimates, confirming this is a key metric.
   • Number of workshops conducted: The funding is intended to support “workshops explaining what documents to store, how to use online legal tools, and how to protect assets,” making the number of workshops an indicator of the program’s educational outreach.
   • Number of structured plans created: The program provides “structured plans for transferring assets.” Tracking the number of these plans created would be a direct measure of the program’s success in helping residents with legacy planning.

4. Create a table with three columns titled ‘SDGs, Targets and Indicators” to present the findings from analyzing the article.

   SDGs	Targets	Indicators
   SDG 1: No Poverty	1.4: Ensure equal rights to economic resources, access to ownership, control over property, and inheritance.	Number of residents receiving free legacy-planning services. Number of structured asset transfer plans created for families.
   SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities	10.2: Empower and promote the social and economic inclusion of all.	Number of new client intakes managed by the center. Number of workshops conducted to promote financial literacy.
   SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions	16.3: Promote the rule of law and ensure equal access to justice for all.	Number of residents provided with access to online legal tools and platforms. Tracked outcomes of clients utilizing the legal-planning services.

Source: citizenportal.ai