When William’s partner passed away unexpectedly, he found himself facing new financial stress on top of his grief. Bills quickly piled up, and poor credit stood in the way of moving to a new apartment. When William discovered that the City of San Francisco offered free financial counseling for residents, he made an appointment right away. 

 William began meeting with his counselor weekly. While his finances had previously been a source of stress, he soon found these meetings to be a source of comfort. His counselor was flexible, understanding, and patient, working with William to understand his concerns and create a plan specific to his financial situation. Together, they created a budget and developed strategies to help William reduce his spending while preserving his quality of life. 

 Now, William is feeling more hopeful as he prepares to move into a new, bigger apartment. He still meets with his financial counselor every other week to help him stay focused on his financial future.