Budgeting Makes Things Budgeting Makes Things HappenHappen

A Budgeting Course for Homeless Parents in Athens-Clarke CountyA Budgeting Course for Homeless Parents in Athens-Clarke CountyEDIT 6170 Introduction to Instructional Design

The Designing WomenPatty Freeman-Lynde

Sara Ruth Kerr

BackgroundBackground

66% of homeless in Athens have an income.

Low income individuals are less likely to prepare budgets than higher income individuals.

Learning new skills or relearning skills to become independent is an important part of overcoming homelessness.

Training and the Homeless Training and the Homeless CommunityCommunity

“Educational and training programs may be the most critical serviceoffered by community-based organizations to enhance the ability oflower-income households to accumulate assets” -Alan Greenspan in a speech in 2002 while serving as Chairman of the Federal ReserveBoard.

“I am a firm believer that education is the key to moving out ofpoverty.”

-Pastor Earl Delmarter, Director of the Sparrow’s Nest Mission, Athens, GA

Course objectiveCourse objective

Given an introduction to budgeting and its purposes, the student will be able to

generate a personal budget and choose to maintain this budget by ensuring expenses do not exceed income.

Homeless Parents in ACCHomeless Parents in ACC

Most of our learners were motivated tolearn about budgeting.

“When a crisis hits, I’ll have some

savings available.”

“When a crisis hits, I’ll have some

savings available.”

“I need to learn how to

pay bills, expenses, and have money

left for things I want to do.”

“I need to learn how to

pay bills, expenses, and have money

left for things I want to do.”

“I could manage my

money better.”

“I could manage my

money better.”

Course DesignCourse Design

AA

Instructional StrategiesInstructional Strategies

Informal small group fosters relaxed discussions

"Can you remember the last 5 things you bought and how much they cost?"

Hands-on practice creating a real personal budget

Distribute small notebooks for writing down expenses before next lesson

Field TrialField Trial

The field trial took place at Athens Area Homeless Shelter.

Four homeless parents completed the lesson.

Students were given paper budgeting forms to complete, pencils and note cards for a game.

Hands-on budgeting activityHands-on budgeting activity

What did you learn in this course?

“Budget awareness, what are you working with.”

“That I need a very good paying job to get by nowadays.”

“That general living expenses cost way more than I thought and budgeting goes a long way.”

AssessmentAssessment

Personal Financial Well-Being ScalePre and Post Test Results

EvaluationEvaluation

What parts of the course were confusing?

“None, I just need someone over my shoulder yelling:

‘Budget, Budget!!’”

What parts of the course were confusing?

“None, I just need someone over my shoulder yelling:

‘Budget, Budget!!’”

Will you create a budget for your family?

“Definitely, as soon as I get a

job.”

Will you create a budget for your family?

“Definitely, as soon as I get a

job.”

Will you create a budget for your

family?“Maybe, cause

here I don’t really have much

to budget.”

Will you create a budget for your

family?“Maybe, cause

here I don’t really have much

to budget.”

What would you change about the course?

“Have more than one session.”

What would you change about the course?

“Have more than one session.”