While she waited for her work permit, she spent time updating her resume and LinkedIn profile. By practicing responsible budgeting such as cooking at home, or limiting purchases such as clothing or hobbies, she was able to positively impact her savings. With the help of the budgeting classes she had taken at the IRC, she learned how to cut down her expenses.
Worried that it would take a long time to get her work permit, she applied for SNAP benefits, financial support from the IRC, and Medicaid. One of Ahmed’s clients that has seen success throughout the financial literacy classes is Liudmyla, a mother of three from Ukraine who came to the U.S. “To make a life in the U.S., it is essential to understand the financial system - if it is not working for you it is working against you,” said Ahmed. Ahmed’s goal in these classes is to walk clients through financial independence. From January to March of this year, Ahmed led a total of 63 classes, with about 15 people in attendance on average.
These classes are a three-part series that work through the basics of budgeting, building credit scores, and the American tax system. Much of the work the financial capabilities team does is centered around helping people understand the financial systems in the United States such as loans, banking, taxes, refinancing and credit.Īhmed Khraisat, the financial capabilities coordinator, works as a financial coach, providing instruction focused on financial literacy through classes. Under the umbrella of the International Rescue Committee (IRC) in Salt Lake City’s economic well-being services, the Financial Capabilities program serves refugees and new Americans through one-on-one financial coaching, classes and workshops, and access to resources to become financially independent.
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