Self-Help Shares

Electric vehicles (EVs) are becoming increasingly popular, and we can understand why. They’re better for the environment and – we're told – better for our wallets. But with the higher starting purchase prices of many EVs, do they really end up saving you money?

In this blog post, we will discuss the current market of EVs, the pros and cons of choosing an electric vehicle for your next car, and how much you might be able to save.

^{CheSa is the owner of CheSa's Bistro and Bar in Chicago, IL.} 

August is Black Business Month, and we are honored to be celebrating the accomplishments of all the incredible Black-owned businesses that have enriched our communities.

CheSa is one such business owner in Chicago, and her story of determination, creativity, and resilience is an incredible reminder of what it means to adapt in pursuit of a dream.

^{Images of owners of businesses that Self-Help has worked with}

Happy Black-owned Business Month! At Self-Help, we are honored to celebrate and support Black entrepreneurs.

In 2021, only 2.8% of businesses in the U.S. were Black-owned, even though Black people make up roughly 14% of the country’s population.¹ This discrepancy is why it’s important to make conscious efforts to champion Black-owned businesses. At Self-Help, we believe that entrepreneurs of all backgrounds should have the opportunity to succeed, but there are many barriers to racially equitable business ownership.

In this post, we will discuss the potential reasons for why there are so few Black-owned businesses and why community banks and community development financial institutions (CDFIs) can serve as an important resource.

July 26^th marks the anniversary of the enactment of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in 1990. This landmark civil rights law prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities and ensures accessibility across public buildings, businesses, communications, transportation, and employment.

In this blog post, we cover the history behind the ADA, its key components, and the positive changes that have resulted from its enactment.

Happy Disability Pride Month! July marks the anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which prohibits discrimination based on disability. While we have come a long way as a society in recognizing and accommodating various disabilities, there is still so much work to be done to make our spaces and systems truly accessible.

One of the major challenges that people with disabilities often go through is the additional costs that can come with supporting a disability or making an environment more accessible through things like adaptive technologies and home modifications.

In this blog post, we will be discussing the financial effects of ableism and providing some helpful tips and resources to support people with disabilities.

Our 2023 Annual Report is now available! Through 2023, we have continued to demonstrate significant impact and are grateful to be part of your community.

We are excited to give you the numbers, share some incredible member stories, and let you know how we plan on continuing to create economic opportunity and promote financial inclusion for all.

^{Self-Help employees outside the state Capitol building during 2024 Pride in Sacramento, CA}

Happy LGBTQIA+ Pride Month!

With the new waves of anti-LGBTQIA+ sentiment and the 532 anti-LGBTQIA+ bills that the ACLU is currently tracking, it is more important than ever to show our support for the LGBTQIA+ community.

At Self-Help, we understand that our focus on uplifting underrepresented groups must include queer folks, who are often discriminated against in the housing and financial services industries. In honor of this month, let’s take some time to recognize some of the ways Self-Help has worked to support LGBTQIA+ communities.

Juneteenth (short for “June Nineteenth”) is a holiday commemorating the end of chattel slavery in the United States. It marks the day in 1865 that news of the Emancipation Proclamation finally reached Galveston, TX, letting the last people who were enslaved in the U.S. know they were free. It is considered a second Independence Day and is also called Freedom Day or Emancipation Day.

Juneteenth became the newest federal holiday in 2021, which means many of us are still learning about its significance. At Self-Help, we’re honoring this important holiday by getting a better understanding of the meaning behind some of the iconic Juneteenth symbols and traditions.