Neighborhood Allies, in partnership with National Disability Institute (NDI), has launched a new initiative to expand access to free, specialized financial counseling for people with disabilities and their families across Allegheny County. The collaboration equips financial counselors with training tailored to the unique financial challenges experienced by individuals with disabilities.

To date, 23 counselors have completed the training, led by the Allegheny County Financial Empowerment Center (FEC) and other local partners. These professionals are now prepared to deliver high-quality, no-cost financial counseling designed to support financial stability and informed decision-making for residents with disabilities. Some of our Pittsburgh-area counselors, Anita, John, Mariya, and Robin, participated in the financial counseling training provided by the National Disability Institute.

“This effort helps ensure that financial counseling is not just available, but accessible and relevant to those who need it most,” said Sarah Dieleman Perry, Vice President of Economic Mobility at Neighborhood Allies. “We’re proud to work with National Disability Institute and our partners to bring meaningful financial empowerment to our community.”

Neighborhood Allies, which operates the Allegheny County FEC in partnership with the Allegheny County Department of Human Services, serves as the anchor organization for this effort.

Additional partners involved in the training and implementation include: Advantage Credit Counseling Services, Catapult Greater Pittsburgh, Mon Valley Initiative, and NeighborWorks Western Pennsylvania.

To learn more about financial counseling services, visit myfinancialpower.org. For more information about NDI’s Inclusive Financial Counseling Initiative, visit nationaldisabilityinstitute.org/inclusive-financial-counseling.