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.

Our 2008 20-20 Power Workshop has 31 students who have completed the Financial Planning, Employment and Financial Literacy courses.  They are currently attending the last course, Life Skills which will end the formal curriculum in November.  Students have until April 2009 to meet their program goals.
As of October 2008, the students have attained this goal.

• Average student income at beginning of 20-20 Power Workshops - $9,665
• Average student income after 3 Courses - $15,816
• Dollar Increase - $6,151
• Percent Increase – 64%

• Average student net worth at beginning of 20-20 Power Workshops $8,689
• Average student net worth after 3 Courses - $15,057
• Dollar Increase - $6,368
• Percent Increase – 73%

Collectively, the 31 students are bringing home $110,712 more than when they started the program!  What’s even more remarkable is that our students are using their extra income to asset-build by saving money, paying down debts, increasing home equity and creating and investing in their retirement funds!

Several students have pulled themselves back from bankruptcy, and others are saving money to buy their first home.

In January 2009, Skills For Living will begin its next class with 200 students at 10 area locations.  If you are interested in enrolling as a student, please click here, and if you would like to become a mentor or instructor, please click here.

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