Skills For Living is about breaking the cycle of poverty.

As a 501 (c)(3) non-profit, grass-root organization, Skills For Living (S4L) is dedicated to permanently improving the lives of low-income working poor Houston families. S4L provides education and positive, practical mentoring to teach families how to define goals and implement strategies to enhance their lives and the lives of their children.

S4L focuses on the working poor because these are the most vulnerable families in America. If poor and on public assistance, families often qualify for food stamps, health care, child care, housing, public transportation, clothing and paid utilities. If a person works and earns minimum wage, his or her income is often below $16,000. Supporting a family of four on this income is impossible.

The founders of S4L, Ken and Lorraine Decker are award winning financial planning educators. They have helped thousands of families attain financial goals and become financially independent. The Deckers thought that with the help of dedicated volunteers, they could educate and mentor goal oriented working poor families and teens. Volunteers could train the families on how to increase their income, build assets, learn computer skills and acquire a working knowledge of practical finance. With these skills and others, families could permanently break the cycle of poverty.

In 2006, 31 families participated in Power Workshops receiving 336 hours of formal educational instruction in English and Spanish workshops. Twenty families sat for the mid-term financial literacy exam and earned an average grade of 77.2%.

Twenty-one families joined the 20-20 Program during 2006, but 3 dropped out because they had to work nights or they were unable to meet with their mentors. One family, who is working two jobs, is a part-time college student and mother of three, was placed on an educational leave since she didn't have time to attend programs. Of the 17 families remaining, seven families achieved their 20-20 goals (in one year), with these average results:

• Average family income at beginning of 20-20 Program - $20,385
• Average family income after 1 year in program - $31,044
• Dollar Increase - $10,659
• % Increase - 52%

• Average family net worth at beginning of 20-20 Program - $6,953
• Average family net worth after 1 year in program - $20,485
• Increase in net worth - $13,532
• % Increase - 195%

S4L helped these 7 families increase their incomes by almost $75,000/ year and deliver almost $100,000 to their bottom line, through savings, reduction of debt, increase in home equity and employer savings plans.

As we progress into 2007, S4L will continue Power Workshops, mentor families in the 20-20 Program, add 8 more families to the NW program and introduce S4L programs to a new community - 115 freshman and their parents at the YES college prep school for students from low-income families!

For more information on Skills For Living programs, please read the individual fact sheets for each program or call 713-782-9974.