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Financial Empowerment

Home Financial Empowerment

Financial Empowerment is an approach to poverty reduction that focuses on improving the financial security of people with a low income.  Financial empowerment programs include tax filing, financial literacy programs, saving and budgeting, benefits access, consumer protection and financial coaching. Visit Prosper Canada to learn more or check out this Financial Empowerment guide.

Through Bridges to Prosperity, we are working to improve access to financial empowerment programs across Niagara region.

Local Service Providers

Free Tax Services and Access to Benefits

Saving & Asset Building Opportunities

Tools & Resources

Consumer Awareness Protection

Practitioner Resources

This page is under construction

We update this page regularly as we continue to map the financial service and support ecosystem in Niagara! If you have services or resources to add here, please email us at info@workforcecollective.ca.

Local Service Providers

For more than 50 years, Credit Canada has provided debt relief to those in need. As a non-profit organization and Canada’s first and longest-standing credit counselling agency, they’ve helped millions avoid bankruptcy, become debt-free and achieve financial wellness.

Community Care provides assistance to all St. Catharines and Thorold residents who self-identify they are facing food insecurity – the provision of food is unconditional and not contingent upon any criteria such as income, housing status, background, or participation in other programs or services.

Community Care of West Niagara is a registered charitable non-profit organization that has been serving Lincoln and surrounding communities since 1967. They are a volunteer driven organization that relies heavily on the community for donations of goods including food and clothing as well as financial donations.

Feminist-informed Future Black Female (FBF) is a non-profit organization that works to empower Black girls and women between the ages of 16 and 22 to take charge of their education and career paths as well as their social, political, and civic engagement.

Links for Greener Learning is an environmental charity organization dedicated to serving the community through the promotion of eco-friendly and sustainable practices. Their programs address both environmental conservation and social welfare, with a strong focus on mitigating food insecurity.

The Niagara West Adult Learning Centre (NWALC) has been helping residents of Lincoln, West Lincoln and Grimsby to improve their reading, writing, numeracy and digital skills for over 25 years.

 Port Cares provides vital services to the communities of Port Colborne, Wainfleet and surrounding areas. Their aim is to provide help, hope and opportunity to all to achieve their potential and improve their quality of life.

Port Cares Website

REACH Niagara supports community recovery by providing healthcare to individuals who lack access to basic needs, including those who are homeless, precariously housed, or living below the poverty line.

Start Me Up Niagara offers services and programs to individuals who face significant life challenges to provide them with opportunities to stabilize, participate and grow.

TOES Niagara is dedicated to empowering immigrant and racially marginalized women and their families through trauma informed client centred, culturally responsive comprehensive educational programs and support services.

Free Tax Services and Access to Benefits

Prosper Canada: Access to Benefits

Prosper Canada has created a suite of three tools to be used by organizations, families or individuals to navigate access to benefits.

Access to Benefits Tools

Prosper Canada: Benefits Wayfinder

A simple tool to help Canadians find and apply for government benefits, including income supports, housing help, and more.

Benefits Wayfinder

Prosper Canada: Tax Filing Tool Kit

A curated list of resources and links to support organizations assisting clients with tax filing and benefits access.

Tax Toolkit

Government of Canada: Tax Clinics & Services

Access to tax filing services is vital to ensure that people get the benefit and credit payments you’re entitled to without interruption.

Free Tax Clinics

Volunteers are needed to support vital tax programs year-round. To get involved, visit the Canada.ca page on volunteering at a free tax clinic or contact us at info@workforcecollective.ca.

Saving and Asset Building Opportunities

Canada Learning Bond

  • The Canada Learning Bond is money the Government of Canada adds to a Registered Education Savings Plan (RESP) to help pay for the cost of full- or part-time studies after high school. Eligible children and youth can receive an initial payment of $500 and another $100 for every year until age 15, up to $2,000 total.
  • The Canada Learning Bond can be claimed for previous eligible years even if no RESP was open during those years.
  • You do not need to add any money in the RESP to receive the Canada Learning Bond.

Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP)

  • The Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP) is a Canada-wide registered matched savings plan specifically for people with disabilities.
  • RDSP Calculator: Enhance the quality of life for a family member with a disability. By answering a few simple questions, the RDSP Calculator can help you project the estimated future value of an RDSP, and the approximate value of future withdrawal payments. Run various scenarios to see how it would affect the value of your RDSP.

Tools and Resources

Trove

A free digital platform that helps Canadians organize, store, and share important personal and financial information securely.

Visit Trove

Financial Empowerment Toolkits

Free, practical resources for service providers and clients tackling a variety of financial topics, including budgeting, saving, debt, taxes, and more.

Explore the Toolkits

Financial Literacy Playbook

A resource-packed guide for community workers to help clients build financial skills and confidence.

View the Playbook

Other resources

  • Financial literacy programs: Educational materials through the Government of Canada to help students and adults increase their financial knowledge and skills.
  • Free Financial Literacy Course l ABC Money Matters: Improve your financial literacy skills with these free resources. The Money Matters resources are for use at home and in workshops and activities that are also free for participants. Resources are not to be used for commercial purposes.

Consumer Awareness Protection

Visit Niagara Regional Police Services to learn more about fraud protection and common local scams.

Niagara Regional Police Services

Practitioner Resources

Niagara Financial Literacy Resources

A hub of local tools and information to support financial literacy, including budgeting, banking, credit, and debt resources.

Visit the Resource Hub

Benefits Bridge

A resource for community service providers to support clients in accessing income benefits and financial help.

Explore Benefits Bridge

Agency Portal

A dedicated platform for service providers to guide clients through benefits searches and applications.

Access the Agency Portal

Government of Canada: Tax Clinics & Services

Access to tax filing services is vital to ensure that people get the benefit and credit payments you’re entitled to without interruption.

Free Tax Clinics

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