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Contra Costa Marketplace - April 2016

to individuals for free. “We really don’t even require that folks be low income,” said Geishirt-Cantrell. “Someone could need to see one of our attorneys cause they are being sued by a credit card company, or maybe they make good money but don’t know how to save a dime of it.” Commitment and a willingness to put in the work is what the SparkPoint team does require from each of their clients. “We tell folks that they didn’t get in this situation overnight and we let them know that change will take time. Some folks aren’t ready to do the work and some folks are looking for a quick fix,” she said. “We tell them that that is not what we are. But, we suggest to everyone that by committing to at least eight months they will be in a better situation and they will be less likely to fall back into financial trouble.” The minimum eightmonth commitment that SparkPoint asks from their clients may seem like a long time, but Geishirt-Cantrell said that this is an average length of time for individuals to reach the long-term financial goals. Having at least a 700 credit score, to be making a livable income, to not have revolving debt, and to have at least three months of expenses in savings are the four basic goals established for all clients. “When folks come in for the first time we are going to ask for all of their financial information,” she said. While it may seem invasive, Geishirt-Cantrell stressed the importance for the team to know exactly what each client is facing. “The more accurate information we can get about the situation the better we can help you come up with a plan and help you learn the skills you need to improve your situation.” For individuals interested in starting down the long, and fruitful, path to financial self-sufficiency, Geishirt- Cantrell encouraged those people to attend one of the weekly welcome groups that are hosted at


Contra Costa Marketplace - April 2016
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