Community Housing Innovations (CHI) has been awarded a grant from Citi Foundation to fund its financial literacy programs that help low-income families plan their financial futures. The $250,000 grant from Citi Foundation’s Community Finance Innovation Fund program will allow CHI’s Financial Freedom program to hold additional free lunch and learn and one-on-one counseling sessions to teach money management and other financial planning skills.
“This funding will enable us to expand our Financial Freedom Program, providing critical financial literacy education, one-on-one counseling and practical tools to underserved individuals and families across the New York Metropolitan Area,” said Ron Abad, CEO of Community Housing Innovations. “We thank Citi Foundation for helping us to empower individuals and families to achieve financial stability and long-term economic mobility.”
First launched in 2022, Citi Foundation’s Community Finance Innovation Fund invests in a range of solutions that advance financial inclusion and financial health in low-income communities across the U.S.
“Improving financial health and inclusion are critical to creating stronger and more resilient communities,” said Brandee McHale, president of the Citi Foundation and head of Citi Community Investing & Development. “Through this funding, we look forward to accelerating financial coaching and counseling efforts that help communities across the country build financial stability and plan for their futures.” Successful financial planning helps families build wealth by improving credit profiles, reducing unsustainable debt burdens and establishing dedicated emergency savings buffers, according to the Brookings Institute.
Tiffany Kilpatrick, CHI director of Homeownership & Housing Retention, said that CHI’s Financial Freedom Program works to help families improve their credit, resolve debt, create working budgets and open safe, affordable bank accounts.
Studies show that 4 in 10 adults in the U.S. would need to put an unexpected $400 expense on a credit card or would need to borrow money from family or friends to cover the cost.
As of October 2025, 96 people have attended 12 CHI financial literacy sessions in Poughkeepsie, Port Chester, Beacon, Shrub Oak, Suffern, and New Rochelle. More than 60 people are currently enrolled in one-on-one financial counseling, according to Kilpatrick.
The next financial literacy session will be held on Nov. 21 from noon-1:30 p.m. at the Newburgh Free Library at 124 Grand St. in Newburgh.
For more information on CHI’s Financial Freedom Program, visit communityhousing.org or call (914) 683-1010, ext. 1287.
Community Housing Innovations Inc. (CHI) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing housing and human services that support independence and growth. CHI serves individuals and families who are homeless, at risk of homelessness or have special needs, offering a range of programs, including emergency shelter, transitional and permanent housing and supportive services.
The Citi Foundation works to promote economic progress and improve the lives of people in low-income communities around the world. It invests in efforts that increase financial inclusion, catalyze job opportunities for youth and reimagine approaches to building economically vibrant communities. The Citi Foundation’s “More than Philanthropy” approach leverages the enormous expertise of Citi and its people to fulfill its mission and drive thought leadership and innovation.
