FAQs

Clarifi serves the greater Philadelphia Metropolitan area with over 20 locations in northeast PA, South Jersey and Delaware. Visit clarifi.org/location for our office locations by county.

Visit www.clarifi.org/locations for our current locations.

You do not have access to the account during the program. Your housing authority manages the account for you.

Yes, Clarifi is member of the National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC) and accredited by the Council on Accreditation.

In person, phone, and immediate.

Yes, Clarifi is registered as a 501 c (3).

We measure the outcomes of all counseling and educational clients and use this data to improve our programs and services and drive overarching agency initiatives to correspond to our clients’ needs. Our in-house Program Evaluation & Technology team is dedicated to creating, administering, and analyzing outcomes measurement instruments in order to optimize our program offerings to our clients.

Clarifi employs over 55 employees in 11 counties, including the 5-county Greater Philadelphia area, 5 counties in southern New Jersey, and New Castle County, Delaware.

Stephen Gardner is the Executive Director of Clarifi

Since 1966, we have worked with over 650,000 local residents and continue to innovate by adding programs and services based on community need.

We create hope by helping people identify and secure the most important assets in their lives.

English and Spanish

You can use contractor(s) you are familiar with so long as they have the required licensure.  Clarifi also maintains a list of contractors who have asked us to share their information with people looking for repairs through the Restore Repair Renew Program, and we can share that list with you.

Clarifi is responsible for determining eligibility for Restore Repair Renew. There are a few items we cannot access but the lenders can for instance access a Title Report, thus we say you are Pre-Eligible. The Lender will determine final Eligibility for the program and “lendability” which results in Pre-Qualification for the loan.

One of Clarifi's financial counselors can help you plan and manage your debt to become eligible for the program. We have financial health and wellness programs and coaching that can get your debt-to-income ratio on track for the program.

If we are not able to help you in-house with our knowledge of these issues, Clarifi can help direct you to resources.

It may – it depends on a number of factors like credit score, debt to income ratios and credit utilization; Clarifi can help you sort out how to best manage your credit to ensure it does not jeopardize your loan.

Your lender can issue a conditional loan pre-approval prior to a detailed title review. Often the issue that comes up after a conditional pre-approval on a title is one that Clarifi can help you resolve so your loan can move forward.

The items needed to determine if you can be pre-approved for a loan are different, though a few overlap, than what Clarifi needs to determine pre-eligibility.

Clarifi can work with you to identify other programs or grants that can leverage your loan dollars.  Clarifi can also work with you to determine which projects are a priority for the health of your home as well the occupants.

Clarifi will send out a home assessor to go though your home and look for and document minimum housing standards set for the program. The assessor will also list and note repairs or changes that you want. You will receive a copy of this report and Clarifi will walk through it with you to ensure you understand your home needs.

If you are unsure of which contractors to call, a Clarifi team member can help you identify which types of contractors to call for which home repairs. 

Minimum Home Quality Standards means your home is safe, warm and dry (they are specific but general):

• DRY: your roof and walls are free of holes that let in rain, moisture, or pests; your plumbing is free of leaks
• WARM: your windows can open and close securely, your furnace and water heater work
• SAFE: your exterior doors lock, your lights turn on, your stairs and floors are free of trip hazards, there are no structural issues that are dangerous, your home is free of a pest infestation, your air and water are not contaminated, and you have smoke detectors on each floor.

They will need to submit a written itemized estimate that include a 10% contingency; a maximum of 30% deposit.  Be prepared to submit a certificate of insurance, have City or State licensure and that all projects need to end at approximately the same time.

No, during the program, money is only taken out of your escrow account when you request an interim disbursement to make progress toward one of your goals. When your income changes and you recertify with the housing authority your monthly escrow credit will change, but no money will be withdrawn from the account.

Yes, any increase in earnings from work in your household while you are enrolled in the program contributes to your FSS savings account. That also means that any earned income in your household when you enroll in the program will be included in the starting income on your contract.

Unfortunately, if you lose your voucher or public housing unit while enrolled in FSS, you can no longer participate in the program. Depending on the circumstances, you may be eligible for an early graduation

The FSS program can help you build a more stable financial future. As your income from work increases, your rent increase is saved in an escrow account that you’ll receive when you successfully complete the program. FSS is a five-year program.

When you enroll in the program, your housing authority sets up and manages a FSS savings account for you. An increase in your rent because of an increase in earnings from work will result in a credit to your account.

You do not have access to the account during the program. Your housing authority manages the account for you.

The only way to add to your FSS escrow account is through an increase in income from work. When your rent increases, you will still pay your new, higher rent to your housing authority, but that increase in rent will also be credited to your account.

You cannot use the account for emergencies. You can, however, request an interim disbursement during the program if you plan to use the money to make progress on one of the goals you’ve outlined in your contract.

You do not have to complete the full five years, but you do need to complete the graduation requirements to receive the money in your savings. If you’ve completed all graduation requirements before your contract term is up, you can request an early graduation.

There are three requirements you must meet to graduate from the program. First, you’ll need to be employed at the time of graduation. Second, all household members will need to be free of cash welfare assistance for at least 12 months prior to graduation. Finally, you must have completed the goals you set during the program.

If you need more time to complete the program, you can request an extension of up to two years depending on the circumstances. For example, if you have unexpected health issues or sudden job loss, you can request an extension.

To graduate and receive your savings, you will need to complete your goals. That said, you will be working with your FSS coordinator throughout the program to create and change goals as your interests and circumstances change.

Yes, heads of household who are not currently employed are allowed – and encouraged – to join the program. To join the program, you must be willing to seek employment since it is a graduation requirement.

No, when you successfully complete the program, you may keep your rental assistance if you still need it. If you don’t graduate from the program, you also will not lose your voucher or public housing unit.

Personal coaching is a part of our intensive six-month Boot Camp program combined with education workshops and counseling. Learn more here and see when the next Boot Camp starts.

We offer programmatic packages with a wide variety of businesses, and community organizations large and small. Visit clarif.org/collaborate for more information.

Make sure to respond to any contact from your counselor or lender. It is still your home, so be proactive in following up with your lender on the status of any application.

Don’t delay, call Clarifi to understand your options early.

Read the documents carefully, know that they are often time sensitive and call Clarifi if you are unsure of what to do.

When you meet with a housing counselor they will take a holistic look at your circumstance to determine what options might be available to meet your housing needs.

You can make a donation by check payable to Clarifi, online at www.clarifi.org or through the United Way. Clarifi’s United Way Donor Choice Number is 4800. Clarifi also accepts donations of stock, bequeaths and other planned giving mechanisms.

Clarifi has a unique place in our community; it’s dedicated to not only meeting people when they’re in crisis, but also preventing future problems. For many people, we’re their first line of defense against foreclosure, homelessness, and poverty. In addition, through financial literacy, we’re empowering individuals all around the Delaware Valley to build stronger, more stable communities.

Clarifi has a diverse funding base which consists of a mix of grants from private and corporation foundations, government contracts for much of its foreclosure prevention and home buyer education work, funding through partnerships and modest fees from clients.

Yes, we will customize any workshop to meet the needs of your audience; an additional fee would be incurred for this service.

Depending on content, they run anywhere from 60 minutes to 2 hours in length for one session.

Clarifi offers a number of educational topics that we can bring to your site. Check out our workshops and events page. 

Clarifi delivers education workshops and programs as a part of their services.

Certified means that the counselor has passed a rigorous battery of tests measuring their financial knowledge.

Yes, our certified Chartered Retirement Planning Counselors can help you create a path to retirement with both short-term needs and long-term goals in mind.  

You may be eligible to enroll in health coverage during the Special Enrollment Period if you or someone in your household experienced one of the following:

• Got married
• Had a change in household size due to separation, divorce or death, and lost health insurance as a result
• Had a change in residence
• Lost health insurance
• Turned 26 and we no longer eligible to be on your parents' healthcare plan
• Became a U.S. citizen

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Account-related and derogatory mark errors could affect your credit score, which could then affect whether you'll qualify for a financial product such as a credit card or loan and what terms you can get. Personal information errors typically don't affect your credit score, but they could alert you to a reporting issue -- or even fraud.

Your credit history and score is one of your most important parts of your financial life. Your credit score follows you forever and it will play a huge role in many major financial situations throughout your life.

A credit score is a numerical expression based on a level analysis of your  credit files, to represent your creditworthiness .  A credit score is used by a lender to help determine whether a person qualifies for a particular credit card, loan, or service.

While different lenders have their own standards for rating credit scores, 700 and higher (on a scale of 300 to 850) is generally considered good.

Get credit for the rent you pay. If you're building your credit score from scratch, you'll likely need to start with a secured credit card.

A secured card is backed by a cash deposit you make upfront; the deposit amount is usually the same as your credit limit.

Your credit score changes as your credit report changes. Therefore, it can change often since new information is added to your credit report all the time

Credit scores use information from three key areas of your credit report: account information (such as credit cards, auto loans, student loans, mortgages and rent), public records (such as tax liens or bankruptcies) and inquiries (requests by lenders to view your credit). Information such as race, gender, where you live and marital status are not used in credit scores

Send your letter by certified mail, “return receipt requested,” so you can document what the credit reporting company received. Keep copies of your dispute letter and enclosures. Credit reporting companies must investigate the items in question — usually within 30 days

Our debt reduction services include monthly progress reports that show how you have reduced your credit card debt. We encourage you to provide us with regular statements from your creditors so we can keep your personal debt management plan on track and reduce your credit card debt in the shortest possible amount of time.

For a full explanation of the differences, please view our Comparing Debt Solutions page.

Usually a debt management program allows you to pay off your debt in five years.

Not necessarily. You may owe just a few thousand dollars, or you may owe a great deal more. Our credit counselors will work with you to determine if you are eligible for a debt management plan.

First, we establish a workable budget and monthly payment amount. Then, we negotiate with your creditors on your behalf to lower payments, stop collection action, and reduce or eliminate late fees. Finally, we disburse your monthly payment in a timely manner to your creditors.

A Debt Management Plan or Program, also known as debt repayment or debt reduction, enables you to engage in systematic, manageable debt repayment. In a debt management program, your overall debt is not lowered—you will pay the full amount owed to your creditors. However, you will be able to make that full debt repayment in a shortened timeframe (usually within 5 years).

Yes, we have various types of opportunities throughout our service area. If you are interested in volunteering your time, please email volunteer@clarifi.org.