It is Possible! Families in Debt Achieve Financial Independence

In Sebastian County, financial crisis is not an abstract idea — it is a daily reality for hundreds of families who are trying to keep the lights on, food on the table, and hope alive.

Nearly 44.31% of families who enroll with the 100 Families Initiative are already in full financial crisis, while another 28.63% are living one emergency away from it. A flat tire. A missed paycheck. A sick child. Any one of these can be enough to unravel an already fragile household.

But community partners are collaborating around shared goals and shared accountability — building pathways that help families move beyond survival and into long-term financial confidence.

100 Families is a community-led initiative that helps families move from crisis to stability and onto career using existing community resources.

Courtnee Harlan, Sebastian County Coordinator for the 100 Families Initiative, sees this transformation every day.

“If you start out with $0 and you get a job, that number is going to jump,” Harlan said. For families who have never had margin, even the smallest progress becomes the foundation for stability.

When families are in crisis, traditional financial advice often misses the mark.

“It’s like telling a drowning person they need swimming lessons,” shared Mark Jones, Financial Credit Counselor with CCOA. “You have to rescue them first.”

Families facing eviction, shut-off notices, court fines, or food insecurity are operating in survival mode. Their brains are flooded with stress. Their bandwidth is limited. Their decisions are not driven by long-term planning — they are driven by urgency.

That is why the first step is stabilization: addressing immediate needs, restoring cash flow, and creating breathing room before any real financial education can take root.

Jones also reminds partners that thriving is not about perfection — because even stable households are vulnerable.

“Even people who have financial stability can have unexpected expenses that can upset stability,” he said.

One of the most harmful misconceptions is the belief that families in crisis simply don’t manage money well. But for many, the problem is not behavior — it is income that does not match the cost of survival.

Families aren’t irresponsible. They are overwhelmed.

Patricia McMullin, Residential Manager at Community Rescue Mission, understands this deeply — because she has lived it.

“I was once homeless. I know what it takes to get from that to stability,” McMullin shared.

Budgeting feels impossible when the numbers don’t add up. When every dollar already has a job — and still falls short — it’s hard to even know where to begin. Many families have never been taught the difference between wants and needs or had the margin to practice long-term planning.

And yet, when given tools, encouragement, and trust — they rise.

Financial thriving does not mean wealth. It means being able to absorb unexpected expenses, plan for the future, and make decisions without fear.

It means:

• Buying a car without emergency assistance
• Paying rent on time without panic
• Having savings — even small savings — that create peace of mind
• Being able to look ahead instead of constantly bracing for impact

And it is possible — even for families who once had nothing.

“It’s not so much about knowledge as it is about modifying behavior,” Jones explained. Real financial change begins when families feel safe enough to believe in a future.

The Community Rescue Mission in Sebastian County sets aside 80% of a family’s income into savings or debt resolution, teaching families to see their money not as something that disappears — but as something that can build stability.

Once families see money accumulating in savings, something shifts. Fear gives way to confidence. Short-term thinking gives way to long-term vision. Families begin to believe that independence is possible — because they can see it growing, dollar by dollar.

Another essential piece is human connection.

Families who walk into a local bank or financial counseling office are not just receiving numbers on a page — they are receiving encouragement, dignity, and hope.

Jennifer Caldwell, Senior Vice President of Community Development at Arvest Bank, says the emotional burden of survival often keeps families from even knowing where to start.

“They are so focused on survival and immediate needs. The mental overload of just day to day is just too much,” Caldwell said.

She encourages families to begin with one simple step — tracking every penny — and reminds them that budgeting is not about restriction.

“If you are making a budget, you’re directing your money where to go and making sure those priorities get taken care of first,” Caldwell shared. “We want people to feel freedom and like they are in control of their budget.”

Families in Sebastian County are proving something powerful:

They are not broken.
They are not stuck.
And they are not alone.

With coordinated support, compassionate guidance, and community-driven solutions, families are moving:

From crisis to stability
From fear to confidence
From dependence to independence

And in doing so, they are reclaiming something even more valuable than financial security:

Hope.