HOUSTON FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT CENTER

WHAT IS THE HFEC?

Financial Services for City Residents 

The Houston Financial Empowerment Center (HFEC) is a City of Houston service, delivered by SERJobs, that offers professional, one-on-one financial counseling and coaching as a free city service.  The HFEC is staffed by professionally trained financial counselors who will help individuals and families better manage their finances, pay down debt, increase savings, establish and build credit, and access safe and affordable mainstream banking products. 

The Houston Financial Empowerment Centers are located at:

  • Acres Homes Multi-Service Center

  • Kashmere Gardens Multi-Service Center

  • Sunnyside Multi-Service Center

  • Magnolia Multi-Service Center

Please click below to schedule a free one-on-one counseling session today.

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HFEC COMPLIMENTARY SERVICES 

Unlock financial freedom with our personalized services.

From debt management to credit building, our certified counselors are here to guide you toward a secure financial future.  

  • Saving is an important habit to get into for a number of reasons — it helps you cover future expenses, manage financial stress, and plan for vacations, just to name a few. 

    Whether you want to save for an emergency fund, a new car, education, plan for retirement, or your dream home, all savings plans start the same way- with a dream. 

    Our counselors will help you make a customized savings plan based on your goals. Meet with a counselor today, and start paying yourself first. 

  • From having to buy cashier’s checks to paying mandatory fees at check cashing stores, the term “cost-of-living” has an especially harsh meaning to people who live without bank accounts. 

    Recent FDIC figures indicate that at least 4.5% of the U.S. population overall is unbanked — specifically, 20.5% of the nation’s Hispanic population and 13.6% of the African American population. 

    HFEC offers cost-effective ways for people to enjoy banking benefits. From account selection to proactive use, we can help you take a major step toward a strong financial foundation and end the hardships of living without a bank account. 

  • Building your credit can seem like a daunting task, and there are so many myths about what helps or hurts your credit score floating around that it can be hard to know where to turn.  

    Unlock the secrets to building and managing a strong credit profile through our expert guidance. Our personalized credit improvement plans and strategic insights will empower you to take charge of your financial reputation. 

    Say goodbye to credit woes, enhance your creditworthiness and open doors to better opportunities. Meet with one of our counselors to help you open doors to a brighter financial future, where your credit works for you! 

  • Buried in debt? Our counselors will help you see the light. Our counselors have tailored debt elimination plans and strategic insights that are designed to guide you toward financial freedom. Whether its student loans, medical debt, personal loans, home or car debt, or payday loans, we can help create a customized strategy to get you back in control. 

HFEC LOCATIONS

KASHMERE

Kashmere Gardens Multi-Service Center

4802 Lockwood Dr, Houston, TX 77026

SUNNYSIDE

Sunnyside Health and Multi-Service Center

4408 Reed Rd, Houston, TX 77051

MAGNOLIA

Magnolia Park Multi-Service Center

7037 Capitol St, Houston, TX 77011

ACRES HOMES

Acres Homes Multi-Service Center

6719 W Montgomery Rd, Houston, TX 77091

SERJOBS’ SUCCESS STORIES

Carl C.

“The FEC has provided resources that were needed in my community. I now have a clear understanding of financial literacy and money management. The Financial counselor has shown me how to prioritize my spending and budget for emergencies. She has also researched different organizations that would be willing to assist me during my financial hardships. I have spread the word among my peers about the FEC, and the impact it has had on me in the last few months.” 

Gerado D.

“Since joining the Financial Empowerment Center, I’ve learned a ton about managing money. I came in wanting to understand credit and banking basics, and with the help of Ms. Glenda Osorto, I’ve not only opened a savings account but also got a solid budget in place covering all my needs, wants, and savings goals. It’s given me a real sense of control over my finances and even got me thinking about things like buying a house someday. Continuing to work with my counselor, I’m feeling more confident about tackling financial decisions. The FEC has been a game-changer for me, reducing my stress and giving me a clearer path to a better financial future.”

Renata C.

“By having a better credit score the FEC has guided me to financial stability feel less anxious when it comes to making money decisions and start to become more financially empowered whether that is setting money aside for savings or saving up for my apartment. Working with my financial counselor helped me achieve a budgeting plan that was flexible and very doable. I managed to get several of my credit cards down to 15% and my credit score went up 48 points since I’ve been involved with the FEC. I was even able to get into my new apartment and start saving money through the Save to Build program my financial counselor introduced me to!” 

Mary R.

“It feels good to know that I can come to a professional without having to pay a small fortune on top of needing financial help. I know I can come to someone who will make sure I am making informed decisions when it comes to money management. I am more aware of what I am spending and if I need to spend. I would tell my friends and family to come to the FEC because they will at a minimum reap the benefits of being better educated on their finances.” 

Sandra M.

“By coming to the FEC I’m less stressed about the debt I had accrued. I have a clear plan to reduce my debt and save for the future. I’m better able to plan my life now that my finances are controllable. Working with my financial counselor has given me hope that I can get out of debt and better provide for my family. We can spend more time together and afford to do things together.” 

Get to know the dedicated professionals behind your financial success.

Meet your counselors, your partners on the path to a brighter financial future. 

MEET OUR COUNSELORS

Lillian Gonzalez

Magnolia Park FEC | English & Spanish Financial Counselor

Lillian Gonzalez serves as a Financial Counselor at the Magnolia Financial Empowerment Center, where she is passionate about helping individuals and families create brighter financial futures. With a background in Business Administration and Management, Lillian combines her professional knowledge with a genuine passion for serving diverse communities. As a first-generation American, she understands the value of opportunity and the impact that knowledge and guidance can have on a person’s life. She finds fulfillment in connecting with people from all walks of life, helping them discover financial opportunities and strategies they may not have realized were available to them. Through her work, Lillian is committed to making financial education more accessible, building confidence, and empowering individuals to take meaningful steps toward achieving their financial goals.

Mordecai Popoola 

Kashmere Gardens FEC | Financial Counselor

Mordecai Popoola is a financial counselor at the Kashmere Gardens Financial Empowerment Center. He has been working in financial services for the last 6 years and enjoy every bit of it. Outside of work he enjoys to travel and keeps up with current events around the country and the world. His passion for helping clients is what he enjoys most about his role.

Sharonda Evans is a Financial Counselor at the Acres Homes Financial Empowerment Center and a dedicated nonprofit leader with a passion for empowering individuals, families, and communities. With extensive experience in workforce development, financial capability, program management, and community engagement, she has helped connect hundreds of individuals to the resources, education, and opportunities needed to achieve long-term financial stability and personal success.

Acres Homes FEC | Financial Counselor

Sharonda Evans

Marisa Cortes is a Financial Counselor at the Sunnyside Multiservice Financial Empowerment Center. Marisa is a dedicated and motivated professional with a strong background in budgeting, savings, and banking needs. Marisa is able to build and maintain positive relationships with a wide range of clients, colleagues, and key business partners. She loves to solve problems and answer any questions that clients may have over their finances. She loves sports, working out, and being around nature.

Sunnyside FEC | English & Spanish Financial Counselor

Marisa Cortes

OUR FEC PROGRAM MANAGER

Roberto Howard is the Director of Financial Services at the Houston Financial Empowerment Center. He is also the Director of Financial Services at SER Jobs. He oversees and manages the day-to-day operations at the Houston Financial Empowerment Center. His passion is to ensure economic equity and mobility of the residents in the Greater Houston Region. 

Previously, Roberto worked in the financial industry for 15 years as a Financial Center Manager and Financial Advisor, where he managed financial consultants who helped clients reach their financial goals. 

Director of Financial Services | FEC Program Manager

Roberto Howard