Economic security across the life cycle involves both building assets and protecting them. Yet current federal consumer and medical debt protections leave many people – especially women, older adults, people of color, and families with low incomes – with significant financial risks and the potential for financial loss. To help address federal gaps in protecting people’s economic security, some states have established their own safeguards against practices related to consumer (credit cards, student loans, and car loans) and medical debt, with the strength of these policies varying widely.
For funders, state-level efforts offer meaningful opportunities to help preserve economic security across the life cycle. This webinar outlines the landscape of state consumer financial protections and highlight models from Illinois and Texas. These examples show how philanthropy can advance advocacy and systems change that improve protections and support long-term asset preservation.
During the webinar we discussed:
- The current landscape of state laws and regulations governing financial service providers and debt collectors
- The advocacy process and key players involved in enacting this level of systemic change
- A practical framework (checklist) for funders to engage in policy change campaigns
- Insights, hopes, and plans for strengthening future financial protections
Resources
- National Consumer Law Center
- Texas Appleseed
- RRF Foundation for Aging: Curbing Rising Debt for Older Adults: A Call to Action
- AFN Resources
- For more information about consumer issues in Illinois, the Woodstock Institute is also an excellent source. Here is information on their current project to eliminate predatory loan stores in Illinois.
- Speaker Bios
Speakers
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