A person’s income depends on various factors. While some people may believe someone’s earnings stem from their ambition and work ethic, others hold that life’s circumstances have a more significant impact on individual income.
Like many things in life, pinpointing why someone earns more or less income than someone else isn’t an exact science. For example, an individual may have great ambition, intelligence, and a tireless work ethic, but they may not earn much money if they’re pursuing a career that doesn’t offer many opportunities for advancement.
Conversely, if that same person chose to enter the field of healthcare, which includes some of the highest-paid jobs, they could be on a dedicated salary ladder. Then there are those who are born into a wealthy family who may inherit a fortune only to squander their money on unprofitable pursuits.
Fortunately, resources exist that can help low-income earners meet their needs and position themselves for a brighter future. This list of the 10 most innovative low-income resources highlights programs and services that can help people live more comfortably.
Propel
#1 Innovative Low-Income Resource for Accessing Benefits
Technology enthusiasts know owning the latest and greatest tech gadgets can come at a steep price. While technological advancements can make our lives easier, they can also make our wallets lighter.
Propel builds software to help low-income individuals access innovative technology. The company offers a free app that users can employ to access balances on their government benefits and search for new jobs.
Why We Recommend Propel
Propel doesn’t just guess which challenges low-income individuals face. The organization surveys approximately 3,000 of its users each month to learn more about the economy’s impact on their lives and their experiences accessing government benefits. The company releases data and insights from its surveys each month.
Key Stats
- Facebook followers: 97K
- Instagram followers: 463
- Website: joinpropel.com
Mini City
#1 Innovative Low-Income Resource for Alleviating Homelessness
People experiencing homelessness can struggle to meet life’s most basic needs. But organizations across the country can help them to access services and programs that provide them with tools to improve their lives.
Mini City connects care providers with solutions that can help people experiencing homelessness obtain benefits and legal forms of identification, including birth certificates and Social Security cards. The organization also assists community organizations and homeless shelters.
Why We Recommend Mini City
People experiencing homelessness who want to improve their lives may not know where to start. Mini City provides tools to help people build a foundation to springboard to a better life, and it offers its programs at no cost for people experiencing homelessness.
Key Stats
- Facebook followers: 104
- Instagram followers: 879
- Website: minicityatl.com
SoLo
#1 Innovative Low-Income Resource for Community Financing
Community financing allows people to access banking products without engaging with a traditional bank. SoLo brings a community of lenders and borrowers together to provide financing solutions that suit both parties.
People who want to lend money through SoLo may be satisfied to do so without earning a return on the money they lend. But SoLo borrowers can elect to tip their lenders as a thank-you for loaning funds to them.
Why We Recommend SoLo
Lenders may have altruistic motivations for participating in SoLo’s programs, and they may be interested in how borrowers will use the money they lend them. SoLo details how the funds for each of its borrowers will be employed, as well as the anticipated date the borrower will pay back their loan and any tip they will provide their lender.
Key Stats
- LinkedIn followers: 4.7K
- Instagram followers: 44.4K
- Website: solofunds.com
PadSplit
#1 Innovative Low-Income Resource for Affordable Housing
The rising cost of housing may make the prospect of owning a house unaffordable to many people. PadSplit, as its name suggests, helps those in need of affordable housing locate a safe and inexpensive co-living solution.
The site offers rooms to rent in numerous cities across the U.S., including Atlanta, Kansas City, and Las Vegas. Users can narrow their search for a room on PadSplit by selecting their preferred move-in date and the features they seek in a living space, such as parking availability and access to a washer and dryer.
Why We Recommend PadSplit
If moving into a house with people you don’t know sounds intimidating, PadSplit provides services to bring peace of mind to its users. The organization conducts identity and background checks on all residents, and users can review other’s experiences with PadSplit.
Key Stats
- Facebook followers: 8.9K
- Instagram followers: 8.5K
- Website: padsplit.com
Acts Housing
#1 Innovative Low-Income Resource for Homebuyers
Buying a home is one of the most expensive purchases most consumers ever make. The process can also be confusing, especially for first-time homebuyers. Acts Housing offers financial coaching and real estate services to help prospective homeowners realize their home-buying dreams.
Acts Housing’s homebuyer counseling is free, and users can engage with the organization’s counselors online. Acts Housing provides a checklist to help users prepare for their initial counseling session.
Why We Recommend Acts Housing
Acts Housing also serves individuals interested in rehabilitating vacant and distressed properties. Homebuyers who rehabilitate their homes can save money and help to beautify their new neighborhoods.
Key Stats
- Facebook followers: 5.2K
- Instagram followers: 756
- Website: actshousing.org
Goodr
#1 Innovative Low-Income Resource for Hunger Relief
Food insecurity is a significant problem in America. According to the hunger relief organization Feeding America, food insecurity affects more than 44 million people annually. Goodr is an organization committed to providing relief to individuals lacking regular access to food.
Goodr fights hunger on several fronts. The organization hosts pop-up markets in food deserts that offer meat and produce for free. Goodr also delivers food to senior citizens and people with disabilities.
Why We Recommend Goodr
Goodr offers solutions to feed hungry youth. The organization’s Snackpack initiative provides healthy meals and snacks to nourish children experiencing food insecurity.
Key Stats
- Facebook followers: 9.3K
- Instagram followers: 22.4K
- Website: goodr.co
Esusu
#1 Innovative Low-Income Resource for Building Credit
Individuals with bad credit may struggle to repair their credit scores and make financially healthy decisions. Esusu helps people who rent their home or apartment to build their credit by reporting their monthly rent payments to the major credit bureaus — Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion.
According to the company, Esusu users have established more than 50,000 credit scores and increased their scores by an average of 34 points.
Why We Recommend Esusu
Renters can feel confident using Esusu’s services to grow their credit scores. The company doesn’t report late or missed payments to the credit bureaus.
Esusu users can check their credit scores and access free financial resources via the company’s online portal.
Key Stats
- Facebook followers: 2.1K
- Instagram followers: 4.1K
- Website: esusurent.com
Olio
#1 Innovative Low-Income Resource for Sharing Locally
Reducing waste can positively impact the environment and save people money. Olio helps reduce waste by promoting sharing among its user base.
Users who own an item they no longer need can take a picture of it, upload it to the company’s app, and let interested members of the Olio community know where they can pick it up.
Why We Recommend Olio
At its origin, Olio focused on ending wasteful food practices. It has since expanded to end the waste of non-food items, including toiletries and children’s toys.
The company has enabled its users to share 174 million portions of food and 12 million household items. Nearly two-thirds of Olio’s users say sharing has boosted their mental health.
Key Stats
- Facebook followers: 126K
- Instagram followers: 177K
- Website: olioapp.com/en
QuestBridge
#1 Innovative Low-Income Resource for Students
The cost of attending a four-year college or university can discourage students from applying to schools they’d otherwise consider. QuestBridge connects students with opportunities to obtain full scholarships to colleges nationwide.
High school seniors from low-income households with strong academic credentials can apply for a QuestBridge scholarship. Successful applicants receive a four-year scholarship that covers tuition, food, and housing expenses.
Why We Recommend QuestBridge
QuestBridge partners with more than 50 prestigious colleges and universities, including the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Yale University.
The organization also offers scholarships to students pursuing a Master of Business Administration.
Key Stats
- Facebook followers: 26K
- Instagram followers: 30.4K
- Website: questbridge.org
Kaleidofin
#1 Innovative Low-Income Resource for International Financial Solutions
People with access to financial solutions can manage their finances responsibly. Kaleidofin, based in India, helps financial institutions provide their customers with solutions in the way of products and services.
The company’s credit assessment models contain more than 30 million data points that combine demographic, geographical, payments, and credit and savings history to help financial institutions assess unbanked individuals.
Why We Recommend Kaleidofin
Banks interested in partnering with Kaleidofin can request a demo of the company’s services. The company also provides financial institutions with insights into customer behavior.
Key Stats
- Facebook followers: 403
- Instagram followers: 78
- Website: kaleidofin.com
Overcoming life’s challenges is always easier when you have a little help. We hope this list of innovative low-income resources can help you on your journey to financial wellness.