Financial Literacy
Loan and Financial Education Program
Serving Lower Fairfield County
Loans are available to qualified applicants for cars, Immigration fees, childcare costs, home repairs, job training, school tuition, and other unplanned expenses. Loans are issued to a third party and cannot be used for past due bills or outstanding debt. (Low interest loans take an average of 4 to 6 weeks for approval.)
Services
• Personalized budgeting advice
• Helpful financial education and resource materials
• One-on-one support during the loan process
• Access to loans up to $10,000 at a low 5.5% interest rate regardless of a bad credit score of no credit history. The interest rate on the loan never changes.
• Flexible loan repayment schedule
• Referral to other community resources
• Peace of mind provided by Catholic Charities, one of the largest and oldest social service providers in Connecticut
Who to Contact
Diane Barston, Manager
203-767-4854
[email protected]
Location
120 East Avenue 2nd Floor
Norwalk, CT 06851
(Located across the street from Norwalk City Hall)
Program Hours
Please call or email for an appointment: Virtual appointments also available.
Monday-Friday
9:00 AM – 5:00 PM (please call or email for an appointment)
In addition to our Norwalk location, we also offer Family Loan Program services in Danbury. Learn more about our Danbury location here.
April is Financial Literacy Month
April is National Financial Literacy Month. It’s an excellent opportunity to review and upgrade your financial smarts.
Whether you’re just starting or have been earning your way for quite some time, it’s never too late to learn about saving and improving your financial outlook. Developing a budget and building financial knowledge is the foundation for a brighter future.
Testimonials
At this time in my life it seems that a rain storm started and kept going. One day I decided to reach out for help which is a hard thing to do, and where do you start? I was referred to Catholic Charities and then I met Diane Barston. Another blessing!! As soon as I spoke with her, I felt safe and I was in good hands. This loan helped me to be able to get on my feet to meet more than one goal. Financial stability, safety for my family and overall better quality of life.
The family and I just wanted to thank you again for the effort and time towards keeping our house warm!
The Latest Financial News
Required Documents for Loan Applicants
The IRS estimates that 1 in 5 eligible taxpayers don’t take advantage of *this* tax credit worth thousands of dollars. Find out if you do, here.
https://www.cnbc.com/2025/02/03/earned-income-tax-credit-eligibility-for-2024.html
Loan and Financial Education Program in the news:
How the Family Loan Program of Danbury Helped a Single Mother Regain Stability
Learn how Catholic Charities’ Family Loan Program of Danbury helped a single mother overcome transportation challenges and build long-term financial stability through affordable loans and one-on-one budgeting support.
April is Financial Literacy Month
April is Financial Literacy Month, a time dedicated to enhancing our understanding of personal finance and empowering individuals to make informed financial decisions. At Catholic Charities of Fairfield County, we recognize the profound impact that financial education can have on individuals and families striving for stability and self-sufficiency. To support this mission, we offer specialized programs in Danbury and Norwalk designed to provide both financial education and access to low-interest loans for essential needs.
Learn about the Loan and Financial Education Program in this video from New Covenant Center!
Program funds generously provided by:
This program was made possible [in part] by Fairfield County’s Community Foundation and United Way of Coastal and Western Connecticut.
