Need help finding local financial resources?

Madison residents seeking help with financial concerns due to the COVID-19 pandemic can contact a new, free hotline to be connected with a “Financial Navigator” – a person they can talk to about their financial concerns.

Financial Navigators are available at no cost to provide guidance, over the phone, to help residents access available programs and services to manage income loss and other financial concerns they may be experiencing. With one-on-one discussions, they will help to address personal financial issues, identify immediate steps to manage expenses and maximize income, and make referrals to other services such as bill paying assistance, government benefits and other programs that may come from future stimulus packages.

Access the Hotline one of two ways:

• Sign up for a session.
• OR Call the Madison Public Library Reference Line for over the phone sign-up: 
  608-266-6300
  10:00 am - 6:00 pm Monday-Friday or 12:00 pm - 5:00 pm on Saturdays 

What to expect from your session:

• You will be contacted within 48 hours, as call volume allows, by a Financial Navigator to begin your personal session. 
• Call back hours are Mondays through Fridays 9:00 am – 6:00 pm.  
• Hotline sessions will last about 30 minutes and address most pressing needs.  
• Residents are invited to sign up for as many sessions as they like, but there is no guarantee they will be matched with the same Financial Navigator.
• Financial navigation sessions are available directly in English, Hmong, and Spanish, Mandinka and Wolof, with ASL and other languages available through the City’s interpretation services. 

Organizations across Madison can also refer clients directly to the Financial Resources Hotline by sharing the link or helping them fill out the interest form. Partners can access a promotional toolkit.

Residents who have further questions about the hotline may call (608) 266-6300.

About the Program

The City of Madison was among the first cohort of municipalities awarded a grant from Cities for Financial Empowerment (CFE) Fund’s Financial Navigators program in May of 2020. To date, 31 municipalities across the country are participating in the program. The partnership provides training, technical assistance, data infrastructure to administer the program, access up-to-date pandemic-related policy information, and an $80,000 one-year grant for operating support.  The City has committed to operate the hotline for one year with the possibility of continuing services if the need remains. For more information, view an October 15, 2020 press release. The CFE Fund’s Financial Navigators initiative is supported by Bloomberg Philanthropies, the Citi Foundation, JPMorgan Chase & Co., and the Wells Fargo Foundation.